Over the years, a series of interventions and additions have altered the original typology’s reading.

A housing program is proposed that, in the future, could accommodate 4 rooms for rural tourism. Two strategic lines of intervention are proposed for each of the existing construction realities. The intervention logic aims to preserve the original masonry structure, adapting it to the new uses inserted within.

Original construction – 1800

In the original construction, the level of habitability is defined by the building techniques of the time: small openings and high thermal inertia (adobe walls). Comfort in this space is tied to changes in the outdoor climate, although it can be heated occasionally with a small wood stove. The main bedroom and bathroom are inserted within this unheated volume using timber construction technology, creating a material contrast with the existing structure.

Later addition – 1960

In the central body, a continuous interior lining is installed to allow for climate control in the kitchen, living area, and mezzanine. The thermal storage unit is powered by a wood-burning range cooker, although it also includes an auxiliary gas burner.

On the other hand, the building’s energy performance has been optimized by studying air stratification from the ground floor up to the roof space. The home’s energy consumption has been reduced through thick thermal insulation, low thermal transmittance window frames, and a mechanical ventilation system.

The maximum regulatory height limit has been fully utilized by raising the roof to create a large multipurpose space, independent of the structural and spatial logic of the lower floors. This gesture enhances solar exposure, both in terms of direct radiation and natural lighting.

The project constantly engages with these two construction timeframes, creating contrasting experiences between the original structure and the later intervention.

Materials and construction techniques

In terms of construction, priority has been given to the use of materials and techniques from local companies: laminated wood, OSB boards, timber framing, wood fiber insulation, wooden windows, and comprehensive restoration work on the adobe façades.

The firewood supplying the heating system through the wood-burning range cooker is sourced from a poplar grove located less than 1 km from the project site (on the outskirts of the same municipality). The owner of the cascina manages several hectares where he controls his own energy source, managing costs and closing the energy loop.