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ZDA Zuppelli Design & Architettura
The fundamental feature of the project for the renovation of the Casa Bona home is the juxtaposition of the stylistic lines of the existing rural building with innovative construction features, such as Mystone Limestone stone-effect porcelain stoneware, which fits attractively into the context.
At Gambara, an agricultural town near Brescia in Italy’s Lombardy region, ZDA Zupelli Design Architettura, in partnership with Francesca Dellabona, produced the project for the renovation of an old hay barn to convert it into a detached home, Casa Bona. The architects, Carlo Zupelli together with his son Ezio and Francesca Dellabona, highlighted the contrast between the original structure and the new construction features both outside and inside the home. In particular, the rustic characteristics of the bare brick external facade were conserved, while the courtyard was given a modern make-over, with large windows with aluminium profiles inserted between the vertical structures of the original pillars.
Inside, the hand-made iron staircase in the same dark colour as the window frames contrasts with the pale varnished wood roof, visible from the double height living area. Simple lines and contemporary design approaches characterise all the interiors, both on the ground floor in the entrance area, which opens onto the lounge, the dining area and the kitchen, and on the first floor, where the staircase gives access to the platform corridor above the living area, which leads to the sleeping area.
In line with the home’s colour scheme, in which beige predominates, the architects chose the Marazzi Mystone Limestone porcelain stoneware collection in the 60x120 size and in Ivory shade. This stoneware reproduces a stone with antique origins, with natural, minimalist surface patterning, and includes LEED® certification, since it is produced with 40% recycled material, and Greenguard Gold certification for its low emissions of volatile organic compounds into the indoor air. The architects’ decision to use the same flooring product throughout the ground floor, and on the first floor for the bathroom wall and floor coverings, was due not only to Mystone Limestone’s high-performance technical characteristics and the anti-slip properties achieved with the new StepWise technology, but also to this product’s ability to render spaces more contemporary without sacrificing the beauty of the original structure.
Ph. Matteo Sturla
With assistance from Sara Ceresera, Marco Bettera and Giorgia Bianchi
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