Country house with pronounced contemporary touches by Park Associati. The restoration of an early twentieth-century barn in Val Tidone, Italy led to this characteristic project wich combines traditional and contemporary architecture. A typical farm house has been transformed into a holiday home without radically altering its original form. A simple architectural style has been chosen to successfully respond to the housing needs of a large family. The horizontal and vertical connection of the surfaces are enhanced by the glass covered passageway-cum-yard and the particular design of the staircase (the key element of the project) wcich together provide a sense of continuity for the circulation between the interior spaces. The reuse of local materials together with innovative technical features from the insulation and natural ventilation systems to the intricate heating system of stoves and chimneys enable the project to resolve clearly and effectively the requirements for all-season living. The winter woodshed is the only new construction on the site which is entirely clad in wood, apart from the front facing house which is in Cor-Ten steel.
