The project is based on some key themes/objectives:

- design of external areas
- constant relationship between exterior and interior spaces
- design of non-invasive and light “structural additions” in compliance with the existing structure
- restyling of the cladding using natural materials and clean, elegant finishes with a great character
- internal simplification and redistribution of the spaces with particular attention to: natural lighting, spaciousness of the rooms and practicability, contact with vegetation, privacy and shelter from the sun, utility spaces.


1. DESIGN OF THE EXTERNAL AREAS

The decision was made to eliminate the canopies on the east front and to move the driveway access by a few meters to the north, thus separating the livable areas from the car / bike garage. The external flooring has been resized to give more space to greenery. Thus a main garden has been created for relaxation and convivial moments in the area on the east and south front, the sunniest and largest.

Here we find:
- the pedestrian entrance in front of the main entrance
- flower boxes with decorative vegetation and two large water basins on different levels that flank the entrance
- a large garden with perimeter vegetation and furniture for relaxation
- a very bright paved area to the south with an outdoor kitchen, table and chairs for outdoor dining

In the northern part, less sunny, smaller and in contact with the neighbors' garage, there are:
- the secondary entrance connected to the main entrance and equipped with closet furniture and wardrobe
- two large and fully covered parking spaces
- a compartment for storing bikes on the ground or hung on the wall
- a technical compartment / storage room for the equipment useful for the care of the garden
- a secondary garden with dense and tall vegetation which increases privacy on the upper floors


2. CONSTANT INTERIOR-EXTERIOR RELATIONSHIP

The redesign in point 1 with the new internal distribution of the spaces allows the most lived-in rooms of the house to be in constant visual and physical contact with the external environment.
Large sliding windows maximize the penetration of natural light by eliminating "shadow areas" and contributing to a general feeling of well-being. When open, they combine interior and exterior in a single environment. The living room overlooks the main garden entirely. Dining room and kitchens are connected to the convivial area on the south front. The new central void on all floors and the large skylights on the roof, in addition to increasing the brightness of all the common areas, visually connect the staircase to the external environment. This explains the decision to bring the vegetation back inside with pebbles and plants on the ground floor and with the full-height vertical green wall.The extensions on the north and south fronts, explained in the next step, allow the creation of large external planters that characterize the elevations. These reproduce real private gardens for the rooms on the first floor where it will be possible to play and relax while maintaining contact with nature. They are also used for privacy and to keep the rooms cool. The second floor is characterized by large terraces that shelter the lower floors from the sun and open a panoramic view of the garden and the city. Particularly suitable for outdoor exercises (gym) and solitary relaxation (study).


3. STRUCTURAL ADDITIONS

The interventions on the structure are of 3 types:
- simplification of the existing structure in the outermost parts
- addition of new lightweight structural elements
- demolition of the staircase and insertion of the new one

The simplification of the structure consists mainly of the elimination of the canopies, the demolition of some central structural elements (entrance area) for the opening of the new voids, and the demolition of the octagon on the top floor for the construction of a new simpler and more linear roof.
The addition of the new structural elements affects the south and north sides for the expansion of the usable square footage and the creation of the covered garage for cars. We recommend the use of lightweight steel or wood elements, with a reduced section and easy to connect to the existing structure without the need to modify it. With these additions, private gardens and balconies / terraces are obtained on the upper floors which contribute to privacy and to control internal temperatures.
The intervention is visible due to the protrusion of the elements on the facade.
A minimally invasive intervention similar to that already described for additions is envisaged for the stairwell. Once the existing structure has been demolished while keeping the outline and supporting structural elements intact, the new single-beam structure is fastened into prefabricated elements. The new staircase is light and completely open onto corridors and voids in such a way as to maximize the entry of natural light.


4. RESTYLING OF THE ENCLOSURE

The intervention on the facades uses some elements with an architectural and aesthetic function that have characterized the project from the beginning:

- a full-height vertical divider wall
- horizontal plan lines and well marked planters
- wooden sunshade strips

Vertical divider wall.
It is a reinterpretation of the existing stone wall. In addition to its aesthetic function due to the natural cladding that characterizes the facade, this element has the function of separating the different areas between the south side and the north side of the building. On the ground floor along with the water tanks, also with stone walls, it divides the main garden and living area from
car / bike garage and secondary garden. Upstairs it has the function of giving greater "coverage" and privacy to the bedroom and the gym, distinguishing them from the common and more liveable areas that need more light (sitting room, child's bedroom, study). Ultimately it serves to "camouflage" the difference in level between the southern and northern structure without forcing costly changes.

Planter floor lines.
They counterbalance the vertical element by precisely defining the levels. In this case it is the flower boxes that add a further demarcation between the functions: those of the ground floor convivial and in contact with the garden; those of the more private upper floors and with the possibility of managing the opening to the outside. The light plaster finish gives a contemporary and light look to the building.

Sunshade strips.
They combine the natural material of wood with that of stone and further differentiate the functions on the ground floor from those on the first and second floors. They are motorized and installed on tracks flush with the floor and ceiling, so they can rotate and move making the facades dynamic.
In the closed position, they maximize safety and protection from the outside. Through the rotation it is possible to manage the internal brightness and heat, privacy and contact with nature. In the fully open position, maximum brightness and contact with the outside are achieved.
To further integrate these functions there are: large sliding windows that allow ventilation and communication with gardens and balconies; electric roller blinds that increase privacy and shading. To evaluate the use of mosquito nets.


5. SIMPLIFICATION AND INTERNAL REDISTRIBUTION

The achievement of the themes / objectives of the project is strictly dependent on the relationship between the points analyzed previously and the design choices of the interior spaces.
These choices depend on the conformation of the lot and its orientation.
Two elements in particular help the explanation:

Stone wall.
It divides the lot into southern and northern parts and determines a change of functions both internally and externally.
In the southern part all the functions are concentrated that can benefit from greater natural lighting and greater openness to the outside: living room, dining room and kitchens on the ground floor; sitting room, child's room and study on the upper floors.
The stairwell maintains its original position and is part of the "south block" thus benefiting from a large amount of natural light at any time of the day.
In the northern part, on the other hand, are concentrated the functions that do not require strong natural lighting (mainly use in the evening / night), rather more privacy and confidentiality: entertainment room and secondary entrance with closet / cloakroom on the ground floor; MASTER bedroom, gym and wellness area on the upper floors.
As already mentioned, the stone wall also “encloses” the internal level change.

Plants and border wall with the neighbor.
They determine a distinction of functions on the other east - west axis.
To the east we find the entrances and all the internal areas that open more towards the main garden.
To the west we find the service / vertical connection functions and the functions that, in compliance with the position of the current systems, need more system connections, therefore: wet kitchen, service / guest bathroom, stairwell, technical room and storage room on the floor Earth; bathroom / laundry, archive and bathroom in the study, bathroom in the master bedroom and bathroom / wellness area in the gym on the upper floors.


All furnishings, lighting, doors and windows and finishes have been selected from a limited number of prestigious Italian companies with global market coverage in order to achieve real availability of products for the customer.

Furniture: Flexform and Poliform
Lighting: Flos and Slide
Doors and windows: Alumil and Bertolotto
Finishes: Mirage, Marazzi and Listone Giordano

it was decided not to include decorative objects such as books, toys, paintings and photographs in the 3D model to avoid confusion.
There is only one exception: the statue on the ground floor. It has been positioned to suggest using the staircase as a vertical art gallery in the center of the house.

LIST OF PROCEDURES
1. 3x floor plan with dimensions
3x floor plan with furniture
2. 3x demolition and reconstruction plan
3. 3x lighting plan and light scheme
4. 1x finishes list
5. Renders:
7x living area, dining and kitchen
2x (9x) entertainment room + 1x renders board - entertainment room lighting
4x stairwell
12x master bedroom + 1x renders board - master bedroom privacy and sunnying
3x baby bedroom
1x gym
1x study
7x outdoor + 1x bird’s eye view
6. 1x ceiling/false-ceiling plan
7. 3x 3D floor plan
8. 1x plan and abacus of plant species
9. 2x section with dimensions
10. 1x construction detail section
11. 1x axonometric cross-section
12. 4x external perspective
13. 3x flooring material list

All the tables are divided into two parts: the one on the left contains the main drawings with only the necessary informations; the band on the right contains in-depth graphics, drawings and images.

The .dwg file is unique and contains all the drawings.