Architects Margarita Potente and Stefano Piracini have reconstructed a small house on the southwestern outskirts of the Italian town of Cesena, turning it into their own home, combined with a workshop.
The semi-abandoned vernacular building as part of a two-story urban development after reconstruction has become one of the examples of modern contextual architecture. The street facade is emphatically modest; from a series of neighboring buildings it is distinguished only by the gray color and the gable, towering above the lines of the cornices. The backyard space, on the contrary, is developed and landscaped: it is formed by spacious awnings, panoramic windows and deep loggias open here - the yard becomes a natural continuation of the interior of a small (177 m2) houses.
But besides that the architects approached their work as an experiment - the building was the first in Italy, and one of the first in the whole world, an example of a "passive house", which, firstly, was implemented as a result of reconstruction, and secondly, it is built into the composition of urban development,
according to the authors of the project, they are also the inhabitants of a unique structure.
Energy efficient buildings of this type are certified by the Passivhaus Institute in Darmstadt. It is a globally renowned organization dedicated to the research, development of components and planning tools that are further incorporated into construction. An object is considered certified when specific requirements in the field of architecture, technology and environmental friendliness are met.
Most of the heating system of the Ekodom studio house is realized using such renewable sources as solar radiation and heat emanating from people and technical devices. The house, not connected to the gas network, has a mechanically controlled ventilation system. This allows the cleaned and filtered air from the outside to be enriched with heat and oxygen. By eliminating the use of any combustible energy sources, the building does not emit CO2 into the atmosphere.
As a result of the reconstruction, the building also became earthquake-resistant, which is important for the region, and the budget did not go beyond the average market. The authors used a mix of different materials: natural wood and CLT lamellas, steel, stone and reinforced concrete structures.
For Stefano Piracini, this is not only an architectural structure, but also his own home
In the interiors of the studio house, the whiteness of the walls is combined with natural wood and an abundance of natural light. The freshness of the laconic solution is emphasized by the use of designer plumbing Duravit ME by Starck, Starck 1, - from the series developed by the world famous Philippe Starck.
The ME by Starck series includes bathtubs, trays, toilets, bidets, washbasins, including sanitary ware, built into furniture, as well as equipped with chromed metal stands. All elements are elegant and laconic, matched to each other and have a puristic simplicity of allows them to remain relevant and aesthetic for a long time. These things carry confidence and peace in themselves, gaining in opposition to the realities of the modern world, overly accelerated and overflowing with information.
The highlight of the project is the sink
DuraSquare with a metal console in matt black. The DuraSquare ceramic series is made from the innovative DuraCeram® material; sharp edges of products can be as little as five millimeters thick. Clarity, precision, and minimalism characterize the entire line, which is not only modern and relevant, but also sustainable and sustainable.
The architect installed a washbasin on the bedroom terrace, whose window faces the Savio River, which is just 50 meters away. Given the unsurpassed quality of the material and finishes of Duravit sanitary ware, open space will not compromise durability.
Series L-Cube, Happy D.2, Luv and Sensowash® Slim from Duravit complement home interiors with stylish sanitary fixtures based on new technological developments.
The international jury highly appreciated this object: Bureau Piraccini + Potente | Sustainable Architecture has been awarded The Plan 2020 in the Efficiency & Technology in the Home category.
