The project for Casa M is located in the historic center of the Byzantine city of Ravenna in Italy.
It involves the demolition of an existing building dating back to the 1950s, placed in an incongruous position in the plot, and the reconstruction of a new one combining tradition, form, and technological innovation.
The intervention area is located in an extremely privileged position, within a dense and compact urban layout characterized by courtyard-garden type buildings. The new foot print was chosen to provide privacy from the nearby condo, to maximize the southern orientation and to preserve the existing courtyard with its old trees
The new main courtyard-garden is placed internally to the area and adjacent to the courtyard of the neighboring building, so as to maximize the perception of the internal vegetation and landscape, almost as if we were in a rural area.
The building is developed in an L-shape with the one floor short side in a north-south orientation. Here the courtyard concept is reproduced to design the entrance to the building, protected by a large pergola that creates a "public" green front on the street. A continuous contrast between voids and solids defines the architecture of the main entrance: a large treillage supports a majestic wisteria and the existing Holm Oak tree, providing the necessary shading.
On the long side is the two-story main body of the building, with an east-west orientation and facing south, placed almost in adherence to the northern boundary of the area to maximize the size of the courtyard.
The entire morphology of the project respects the main criteria of passive bioclimatic architecture; the building maximizes its thermal and energy performance by ensuring high levels of indoor and outdoor comfort. Thermal gains from solar radiation are maximized due to the south and southeast exposure of the main rooms so as to achieve maximum winter heating. Plastered sunshade protruding elements allow the best dialogue with the sun: in winter, maximum permeability of the sun's rays and in summer, their maximum shading. The high coefficient of permeability of green areas maintains a favorable indoor microclimate while vegetation is used to create shaded areas on the building while maintaining its best position towards to the sun.
The building's overall energy savings are also maximized by its x-lam wood structure that can provide a high level of energy savings due to its certified air tightness and thermal insulation. The building's low environmental impact is also determined by its prefabricated dry-assembled structure, which avoids the use of harmful solvents or glues.
In the design of Casa M, traditional materials including stone and marble coexist in contemporary spaces with an eclectic and never ordinary design. Ancient and modern blend together creating welcoming spaces in a unique architecture.
