Harmonic dialogue of the original with the new in northern Italy

In the midst of a classic terraced landscape in the hilly region of Northern Italy, interwoven with vineyards, stand side by side two building structures, old and new. Despite their entirely different architectural styles, they exude an extraordinary, peculiar form of harmony thanks to the clever idea of the Italian architect. The author Rocco Borromini was commissioned by the client to design a separate family house that would harmoniously expand the development in the traditional Northern Italian style. He managed to bring the new and the original closer together by choosing a similar scale of construction, terraced arrangements, and the use of natural stone on the façade. Referencing the property boundary defined by stone walls, typical of the region, the seemingly incongruous buildings create a unified whole and, from a historical perspective, discreetly blend into the broader architectural and natural environment.

Living in Stone Terraces
The individual floors of the building were resolved by the architect as three stone terraces, appearing as if they were pressed into the rock. The structure fits seamlessly into the surrounding hillside, cloaked in greenery. The ground floor of the house serves as a garage and storage, technical spaces. Natural wooden gates, stone cladding, and greenery on the roof help to integrate this entirely functional section into the surroundings. The first floor, facing south, represents the main living area, which includes a kitchen with a dining area and a living room overlooking the garden. The cascading second floor offers additional living space with a separate entrance, including a dressing room, bedroom, and relaxation area.

Photo Andrea Puliogotto

Views into the Valley
Transparency, direct impact of light, and unobstructed views on both floors were enhanced by the installation of the Schüco ASS 77 PD.HI sliding door system. The abbreviation “PD” or “Panorama Design” in the system's name is more than appropriate here, as the generously sized fixed and sliding panels (8.77 m x 2.68 m on the first floor and 7.09 m x 2.76 m on the second floor) create truly unobstructed wide-angle views. Thus, the ever-changing surrounding nature throughout the year essentially becomes part of the apartment's furnishing. On pleasant days, if the approximately four-meter sliding panel is opened, the boundary between the interior and the exterior is completely transcended. When closed, the panoramic glazing is vertically interrupted by a single narrow profile with a visible width of just 30 mm. At the push of a button, the barrier-free sliding leaf with an electric motor moves silently in front of the fixed glazing. User comfort is ensured by the completely concealed Schüco e-slide drive system, which can even be controlled via an iPhone or iPad. Additionally, the sliding units are equipped with an alarm and connected to the house's automated control system. For its unique combination of design, comfortable use, and functionality, the Schüco ASS 77 PD.HI sliding system received the prestigious GOLD iF product design award and the "best of the best" red dot design award in 2012.

Execution Meets Expectations
A series of functional and aesthetic requirements prompted the builders to choose the Schüco sliding system. Maximum transparency, slim profiles, frames hidden in the building's structure, and optical neutrality of the ASS 77 PD.HI profile were ideal prerequisites for ensuring absolutely unobstructed views, unlimited natural daylight, and a harmonious dialogue with other building elements. Moreover, the sliding system is very easy to handle. The south orientation necessitated additional measures for protection against solar rays and the possibility of discreet shading. A combination of electrically controlled external shading and anti-solar glass coating was chosen, which reduces infrared radiation penetration.

Photo Andrea Puliogotto

Sensitive Integration
Neutral-looking glass surfaces and light natural stone, two characteristic elements of the new building, together with the terraced arrangement of individual floors, led to a very sensitive placement into the slope. The same success is achieved through the seamless harmony with the original structures, which was a significant desire of the owner. As a result, both buildings appear as one harmonious whole, both day and night, when the interiors are illuminated.

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Project Details:

Family House in Northern Italy
Architect: Rocco Borromini, Sondrio (Italy)
Processor: Mulattieri s.r.l.
Completion: March 2013

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Used Systems:

• Thermally insulated Schüco ASS 77 PD.HI sliding system with tracks embedded in the floor, frames hidden in the building structure, large-format continuous glazing, and a quiet electronic e-slide drive, which is discreetly integrated into the external frame

• Window system Schüco AWS 65.SI

• Entrance doors from the Schüco ADS 65.HD.SI system

• Facade system Schüco FW 60

• Anti-solar insulation glazing with an outer layer of safety glass VSG (RC 2)

Additional Specifications for the Schüco ASS 77 PD System

• The sliding leaf can be realized in maximum dimensions of 3,200 x 3,500 mm (width x height)

• The manufacturer offers 3 variants with different thermal insulation properties for various climatic conditions:

• 1.9 W/m²K (ASS 77 PD.NI)

• 1.1 W/m²K (ASS 77 PD.HI)

• 0.84 W/m²K (ASS 77 PD.SI)

• Security class RC 2 (WK 2)

• Construction depth of wing frames: 77 mm