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Project detail

Dialogue with the landscape

Sicilian architects cottone+indelicato provide an example on how you can transform buildings with no architectural value into artifacts of contemporary architecture integrated with the sicilian landscape.

The residential building object of renovation is located in the outskirts of the town of cianciana, on a lot with a gentle slope, facing the agricultural landscape.

The design concept is the sobriety of the volume and the dialogue with the nature. The building relates to the surrounding landscape with a contemporary language that recalls the mediterranean architecture.

The external areas of the project are structured by a series of plans that relate themselves with the existing topography. Each of these platforms, settled to a different level, absolves to a specific function: the belvedere terrace at the level +0.00m., which is the main level of the house; the barbecue area at -0.45m. And the swimming pool solarium at -0.90m.

Working with the existing

The architectural approach is guided by the principles of the contemporary architectural language. The existing building is converted in a pure white volume according to the elements of the mediterranean architecture that are made by simple geometry harmoniously balanced in the rhythm of mass and void, shadow and light.

Requalification of the volume

1. Conversion of pitches  roof to flat roof where photovoltaic panels are installed

2. Replacement of the concrete roof with a ligther roof in corten

3. Reconstruction of the south-west corner in order to have a rectangular floor plan

Layout and indoor/outdoor connection

1. Service space on the east side, served space on the west taking the maximum advantageof the panoramic view.

2. Fluid and linear circulation , connection all the internal space with the exterior.

Concept of the opening

The volume is marked by the repetition of the dynamic apertures with a constant height and different width; they make the facades more dynamic and dose the light in the interior spaces.

Principles of passive architecture – using green energy

The volume is redefined and lowered in height, by replacing the double pitch roof with flat roof, where it is installed a  integrated system of solar and fotovoltaic  panels  that provide a complete energy independence of the house. Responding to the need of the client to extend the use of the pool during spring and autumn,a set of solar panel has been installed  to warm up the pool water; during the winter (when the pool is close) this energy will switch to aliment the floor eating of the house. It is a combined system that works all the year long, it give termic comfort to the house and the pool using sustainable energy. The photovoltaic panel will guaranty the energy for the ligth (all made by linear strip led) and for the heat pump

The main front has a roof in corten steel, consisting of a filtered pattern of slender vertical elements, which protects the total glass wall of the living space and forms a porch that overlooks the surrounding landscape.

Using principle of passive architecture

Exposition/orientation

Cross ventilation

Roof ventilated

Glass shading

Gathering of rain water for irrigation use

Integrated system of sustainable energy

Solar panel > > hot water

Solar panel > > warming pool water

Solar panel > > floor heating

Photovoltaic panel > > ligthing

Photovoltaic panel > > heating pump

Sustainable devices

In the entire project hab been adopted devices and solution finalised to reduce the consume of energy and minimize the waste of natural or artificial resources.

All the lighting for indoor and outdoor spaces are made by linear strip led integrated in the architercural design

In the bathroom and kitchen are installed devices that minimize the waste of water

The rain water of the roof will be collected in a water tank located under the pool deck and it will be used for irrigation

For the pool deck has been designed an exterior solar shower made by a corten casing with an integrated water tank warmed by the sun.

The main material used are corten, wood, stone, glass and concrete.

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