A 200 year old existing stone house in Linescio, Switzerland was renovated by Buchner Bründler Architekten with a distinctive, minimalistic approach.
Located in the secluded Rovana Valley of Ticino, Switzerland, the project exemplifies a sensitive yet bold approach to rejuvenating historic architecture. The village itself, surrounded by terraced fields and groves of chestnut trees, provides a picturesque backdrop for this ambitious architectural dialogue between the old and the new.
Externally, the changes are discreet but significant. The introduction of a glass door and a new concrete chimney stack are the only overt indicators of the transformation. The architects' commitment to preserving the historical integrity of the 200-year-old stone house is apparent, even as they insert an entirely new structure within its granite shell. This "house within a house" is a monolithic concrete volume, offering a striking juxtaposition to the rough-hewn stone of the original structure.
Internally, the use of exposed concrete creates a striking textural contrast with the stone. The concrete surfaces bear the imprint of the formwork, introducing a bold, tactile quality to the interiors. This raw materiality complements the archaic character of the stone, underscoring the seamless relationship between past and present. The high, folding wooden shutters that open to the south and west, together with the concrete structure, create a unique spatial experience that is both sheltered and expansive.
In the extension, previously used for drying chestnuts, the architects maintain the language of concrete, integrating a bathtub into the floor as a recess and crafting the kitchen worktop and sink as a single cast form. The consistency of material use lends a unified, sculptural quality to the interior spaces.
