Rafael Schmid Architekten
Conversion of the Rustici Casa Lucciola
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interior work
Place
Tessin, Switzerland
Studio
Photos
Rafael Schmid
Description
The two
rustici, or country houses, are located close to Lago di Vogorno in the
beautiful Verzasca Valley. They are just a few minutes’ walk
from the village of Corippo, which is under a preservation order. Their
advantageous situation offers far-reaching views down into the valley, and the
proximity to the Verzasca river means that one can hear the constant roar of
the wild waters. The rustici
were built in 1850 and served primarily as a stables and hayloft. Only
craftspeople from the Verzasca Valley were commissioned to work on the
conversion. The construction work was carried out with great expertise in
traditional local building methods, craftsmanship and great professional pride,
which all had a profound impact on the success of the overall project. The
wooden interior is primarily made of triple-ply spruce panels. This low-cost
material creates an interesting contrast to the building’s
traditional stone exterior. As the interior space is limited, every spare nook
has been used to create storage room. The storage space beneath the stairs
proved especially useful. A total of six bedrooms have been created on the top
floors of the two rustici. The ground floor contains a kitchen-cum-living room
with direct access to the terraced outdoor area. Both rustici are entirely
self-sufficient. Electricity is generated via a solar panel and stored in two
large batteries.