Villa RP

In out-of-the-way places of the heart,
Where your thoughts never think to wander,
This beginning has been quietly forming,
Waiting until you were ready to emerge.

John O’Donohue

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Villa RP

Restoration with energy requalification of a panoramic villa in Arona. The entire building envelope was fully insulated with natural materials (hemp and wood fiber). all the home and pool systems (thermal, electrical, photovoltaic, sound diffusion and security) were redesigned according to new needs and pool and garden areas were reorganized, including a scenic and functional lighting design.
Thanks to an integrated and carefully considered approach to insulation and systems, the building achieved the A4NZEB energy class (A4 Nearly Zero Energy Building), a difficult goal to obtain in restorations of existing buildings.

Villa RP Architecture of Intimacy

year 2023

location Arona (NO)

materials

type of intervention Renovation and energy requalification

technologies External insulation of the house

Renew, give a new beginning but without losing contact with the past, change but without altering the landscape footprint so characteristic of this villa, located at the entrance to Arona, with a dream view of the lake, right in front of the Rocca di Angera.

Every restoration is the passage to a new building phase: identity through change applies to home as well.

The history of this building, now undergoing its third renovation, draws on its scenic and historical beauty while moving, through this project, toward a sustainable future, also thanks to exploring natural materials such as hemp, cellulose, and wood fiber for its requalification.

The history of this villa comes spontaneously to us, in the form of a handwritten letter, one one of those rare but still meaningful arrivals in a mailbox. The author was the architect responsible for the first important villa’s renovation, now nearing retirement, who was reflecting on his career and passing on his legacy through poetic words to the new owners.

It was a precious encounter, one that allowed us to understand the previous design choices and to continue the home journey with awareness and respect.

A villa of character

The intervention preserved the original architectural composition, which was already well defined. Although, a careful reorganization of functional and precise execution was essential.

On the ground floor we have redefined the layout to introduce a laundry, turkish bath, gym, tavern with bar and a wine cellar, optimizing the internal distribution without compromising the quality of the spaces. On the first floor, centered around a living room with a bow-window on the lake, we expanded the living area by merging the living room and kitchen, redesigned the mezzanine and now transformed it into a studio and hobby room.

By the architectural point of view, the most significant transformation was replaced the arched plexiglass dome with a glazed ridge skylight which brings in zenithal light and gives the roof a stronger identity. also the bow-window was enlarged to deepen the visual connection with the landscape: the lake and the sky become integral to the domestic space.

On the exterior, the original pink facade was replaced with a textured, sophisticated green-gray finish, creating a more coherent and authoritative relationship with the surrounding natural context.

We have also fully redesigned the pool area and the adjacent spaces, approaching with a precise and integrated drawing. There were realized new custom-made seats, coated with Bamboo, alternated to Luserna floors in a dialogue of materials that balances natural aesthetics, durability, and comfort.

The surrounding park has been the subject of a targeted landscape intervention: we enhanced the existing tree heritage through a careful lighting plan that emphasizes the scenic value of each element at different times of day. Contextually, we have introduced low-maintenance plant species with stagional blooms and color changes, creating a dynamic balance between sustainability, natural order, and visual quality.

Living the beauty while respecting the nature

We were able to be bold, also thanks to the full trust and openness of the clients.

We have replaced the old heating system with an underfloor heating system, which also provides cooling, and integrated a dehumidification system, essential above all in a context of proximity to the lake. The system optimization allows the same thermal unit to heat the home in winter and the pool during the mid-seasons. The roof now has a photovoltaic system, shaped to follow the roof slopes for minimal visual impact, and capable of offsetting a large part of the villa’s annual energy consumption.

Then there are insulations: hemp insulation for the exterior walls, floors insulation obtained through blowing in cellulose in the cavity near the ground, the entire roof insulation with layers of wood fiber with different density, without modifying the roof structure, which was entirely preserved. also the substitution of the plexiglass dome with a glazed ridge using high-performance thermal glass sheets improved both aesthetic, maintaining insulation and comfort.

Integrated design

The challenge of this renovation was in managing a complex, fully integrated design: not just for the building, but also for the landscape design, lighting, security systems, and sound distribution. We worked in close collaboration with expert consultants, the detailed design of all systems, and constant coordination with the interior designer and highly skilled contractors. The quantity of the work required a strict organizational model, including a detailed work plan and an attendance log, ensuring even the smallest details were monitored and all trades were carefully coordinated.

The availability and trust of clients represented a fundamental added value, making design experience rich in satisfaction and deeply meaningful.

Photography by Francesco Lillo

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