The extension, designed by Messner Architects, is a single-story volume located below the original house and connected to it via an underground passage. The layout is organized around a central living room with an integrated kitchen, while the bedrooms and bathrooms are arranged on either side of the main space.
From a structural standpoint, the extension combines an exposed concrete structure with natural stone masonry walls and large glazed surfaces that reinforce the connection with the outdoors. Inside, a textured plaster pigmented with local aggregates is combined with chestnut and oak wood finishes for floors, ceilings, doors, and built-in furniture, contrasting with smooth plastered walls, ceramic surfaces, and monochromatic furniture fronts.
Conte House by Messner Architects. Photograph by Karina Castro.
Project description by Messner Architects
Situated on a south-facing slope at 990 meters above sea level, above Unterinn am Ritten in Northern Italy, the property consists of a house dating from the late 1970s.
This structure is undergoing an expansion.
The remaining, from local building rules permitted building volume is strategically located below the existing house, adjacent to an existing retaining wall. A wide, unobstructed view opens up, revealing a stunning panorama onto the Dolomites.
Subtly integrated into the surrounding topography, the extension is embedded within the natural terrain. In the context of the scattered, traditional farmhouses characteristic of the rural landscape, the single-story volume seamlessly follows the contour of the slope.
The main structure and its extension are interconnected below grade. The varying levels, circulation routes, and the orientation of the outdoor spaces have been designed to ensure privacy for the residents.
Following the natural slope, the single-story volume opens to the south and southeast. The newly added unit consists of a centrally located living area with an integrated kitchen, flanked by bedrooms and bathrooms.
The topographical orientation requires a precise response to solar exposure. The cantilevered ceiling provides shading for both the interior and the terrace during the summer months, preventing direct sunlight and mitigating the risk of overheating. The floor-to-ceiling glazing facing the terrace blurs the boundary between interior and exterior spaces.
Exposed concrete, natural stone masonry, and glass define the building’s external appearance. Internally, rough plaster tinted with local stone aggregates, together with the use of chestnut and oak for flooring, ceilings, doors, and built-in furnishings, contrasts with the smooth plastered walls, tiled surfaces, and monochrome furniture fronts.
