The project involves the architectural and functional completion of an existing building located in a rural area of Fondi (LT), where, at the time of commissioning, the structure and laminated wood roof had already been built.
The clients, a young family, requested the design of a single-family home with bright and fluid spaces that would reflect the needs of contemporary living. The challenge was to meet these needs while starting from a pre-existing structure with a layout and volume typical of conventional construction.
The design strategy focused on targeted interventions by inserting new architectural elements that would disrupt the rigid original layout.
From a floor plan perspective, the approach was to minimize enclosed volumes and create open, fluid spaces—particularly in the living area, where the only enclosed space is a small guest bathroom with a wardrobe, which also serves as a backdrop for the open kitchen. The staircase, which also pre-existed, was reimagined as a sculptural element within the space; this led to the removal of partition walls enclosing it, favoring a lightweight structure completed with a slender stainless steel handrail.
The choice of materials played a fundamental role in the project. Specifically, the use of a continuous concrete floor and natural oak wood cladding, combined with light-colored walls, helped create a warm and welcoming environment with references to traditional country house materials.
As for the façade design, contrasting elements were introduced into the "anonymous" starting volume—in particular, a large square window and two sliding glass doors on the main south-facing façade, while smaller openings were chosen for the side elevations.
The façade cladding was rendered white to make the volume as neutral and abstract as possible. A fine and coarse-grain plaster was used to create a texture interplay, enhanced by shadow gaps and subtle shifts in the façade plane around the windows and string course.
The garden design aims to ensure maximum continuity between the interior and exterior through the use of concrete paving and a perimeter tree line that screens and protects the house from the road and neighboring buildings.
The home thus reclaims an incomplete structure and reinterprets it within the local context through a critical approach that offers a new perspective on the country house, open to contemporary influences.
