The property is located on the west side of the “Lago Maggiore”, in the Italian mountain village of “Donego”. It is a village that has been almost completely preserved in its original state, with buildings constructed of local granite stone in a technique that is typical of the region.
Due to its original and mostly well-preserved buildings, Donego is a protected site and forms the basis for the architectural approach.

The steeply south-facing hillside plot is parted into three, already existing, levels of height. All three terraced areas offer an extraordinary view across the lake.
On these levels, there already are buildings made of stone; so-called “Rustici”. The concept is to restore, carefully convert and add to them in the typical local way. The fundamental idea is to create a “village within the village”. The courtyard on the middle level as the centre of the ensemble builds the “marketplace” and focal point. The existing structures of the Rustici frame the yard, while it opens up towards the spectacular panorama of the lake and mountain landscape to the south. To emphasize this framing aspect even more, a new building will be placed on the north side of the courtyard, embedded into the existing rocks. A large, rectangular opening creates a link between the inside and outside. Two steps lead down into the new building, the salon. This gesture of carving into the rock is supposed to be recognizable from the inside too.

The lower level on the property is designed as a mixture of a paved area and a lush green garden oasis with a little plunge pool to the west. A narrow staircase provides access to the lower garden level, from which a footpath leads directly to the lake.

Building project: Rustici Donego | conversion of an listed Rustici at the Lago Maggiore
Client: private
Design: 2022

“Poet singing – the flowering sheets” is the title of a spatial artwork by the American conceptual artist Jim Dine. His work consists of large oak sculptures, wall-sized texts and a sound installation.
The housing for Jim Dine’s art is intended to be as simple and yet touching, as his work itself. A simple wooden structure is used to create an area of 40 square metres and a room height of up to 4.6 metres, so that the delicate coal drawings and the sculptures can be shown to their best advantage. The grey glazed, wooden facade, with the subtle shadows of the slatted cladding, bring out the independent appearance of the small building in the art district.

Building project: House of Words – Jim Dine: a site-specific installation
Client: Gerhard Steidl
Completion: 2022
Photographer: Simone Bossi, Guilherme Moreira | Steidl Verlag

As the “Cabin in the Woods”, which was completed in 2011, is extremely popular, its residents regularly receive visitors and there was a desire for a sauna and a small studio, it was time for a structural addition.
In analogy to the Waldhaus, its extension was also made entirely of wood in 2022. In this case, the solid timber floor slab and roof structure were made of cross-laminated timber.

In perfect harmony with its surrounding nature, the Lodge’s rough-sawn cladding is shimmering in a rich and dark forest green. Depending on how the light is falling through the trees, the one-storey building seems to become one with the pine trees around it. This simple house is highlighted only by differently designed openings in the façade. The wellness- and meditation space is characterized by a round window and a double-winged door with glass coffering. The entrance to the studio in the east is also built as a coffered double door. These images evoke memories of the structured paper walls of Japanese tea houses.
The natural surfaces of the wood have also remained visible on all walls on the inside. Only a transparent glaze to protect the wood has been added. The interior of the Sauna is characterized by reused and recycled wood boards.
The small window opening and the glass arched door allow the view from this dark, secluded, and warm chamber into the silence of the calm pine forest.

Building project: Serenity lodge | new building of a Guesthouse in the pine forest of Brandenburg
Client: private
Completion: 2022
Photographer: Clemens Poloczek