Located atop a quaint South Tyrol vineyard, the villa by Peter Pichler Architecture draws its geometric, low-lying form from the terraced landscape surrounding it.
Designed by Italian architecture studio Peter Pichler Architecture, the residence harvests its stunning site: atop the Kastelaz vineyard on a small hillock, to complete effect, seeking definitions of its form, function, and everything in between, from the terrain that nestles it.
Furthermore, Kastelaz is surrounded by mountain valleys, a forest, and the Caldaro lake, affording 360-degree views to all these enviable avenues, while proving to be a sight on its own. The project saw its origins in 2018 when PPA won an invited competition to replace an existing structure atop the vineyard with a new villa design for a well-known wine-producing family from the area (Termeno itself being home to the renowned Gewürztraminer wine).
Apart from the site itself, perhaps the singularly most definitive element of the residence is its form and geometry, evocative of and evolving from local site conditions. At once linear albeit completely harmonious with the fluidity of a natural landscape such as this one, the profile of the home seems to mimic a tessellated, triangulated version of the hill landscape. The “ribbon-like” structure of the house, U-shaped in plan, leads to the creation of an internal courtyard that seeks to offer protection from strong winds coming in from Garda Lake, along with serving as the spiritual focus and communal centre of the house, connecting all internal spaces.
Alternatively, the interior design scheme of Kastelaz is characterised by an effort to create a warm yet simple, minimal atmosphere. A material continuity, more poignant than literal, is maintained through the house and its outdoors, owing to the generous use of concrete and wood in the residence’s interiors.
