This family members property near Milan attributes a partially exposed steel and timber frame modelled on the historical rural farm buildings in the surrounding spot.
Found in Fagnano Olona, a modest village to the north-west of Milan, Casa CM was built amongst 2010 and 2014 by architect Paolo Carlesso as a house for his own family.
The exterior of the house attributes a layer of rectangular panels produced from a fibre cement. The panels, which are just one particular centimetre thick, are screwed onto a red pine substructure that is supported by a structural steel frame.
A quantity of the wooden elements have been left exposed around the outside of the building to enhance ventilation and show the technique of construction.
The architect wished to design and style and build his personal home as some of his relatives had carried out after his grandfather settled in the location in 1938.
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Even though he needed assistance pouring the basis and installing the basic frame, Carlesso completed the rest of the development perform himself.
“I employed low-cost materials and in some circumstances reused wood discarded on other construction sites,” stated Carlesso. “The sincerity of development is transmitted by the design and style.”
In the interior, clay sifted from the soil on the site was employed to coat some of the walls and floors.
The entrance to the house is located on the north side of the building. The front door opens onto a corridor, with a bathroom and study organized on either side.
At the finish of the entrance hall, actions lead down to an open-prepare living area with an adjoining kitchen spot.
In the rest of the property, white walls and sections of wood panelling are utilised to create private regions for different household members and a 1st-floor bathroom.
Gaps were left around some of the structural steel columns and beams to develop the feeling of a single internal space.
“This will generate internal ventilation in the summertime,” explained Carlesso. “At the leading of the roof there are three windows which generate an upward air flow.”
The three floors are connected by a set of cement measures, each finished with a wooden surface. On the first floor, the measures lead onto a mezzanine area overlooking the residing space below.
In purchase to maximise the use of natural light, the building is orientated so its longest side faces south, with a little overhang on the roof – an concept taken from the close by farmstead buildings.
“The projection of the roof to the south in rural buildings is higher in purchase to shade the facade during the summertime,” explained Carlesso.
Surrounded by a larch timber pergola, a series of glass doors along this facade offers views into the backyard from the residing area. The clay floor accumulates heat from the sun to help preserve the property warm in the evenings.
The residence is built completely from sustainable and locally sourced supplies. “There was a necessity to use constructive methods that are sustainable, financial and demand quick labour,” mentioned Carlesso. “This has dictated all the design and style selections.”
To construct the wooden frame without the use of adhesives or structural glues, the architect used a complex timber joining strategy developed to prevent the growth of mould and condensation.
“Wood contributes to our living comfort by filtering and purifying the air inside the property and is a very good thermal insulator,” explained Carlesso.
Carlesso’s design was heavily influenced by the period of industrial advancement that took area close to Milan at the starting of the 20th century.
“Industrial buildings and the residences of workers formed the very first growth beyond the historical centre,” explained the architect.
“New materials such as steel and cement were employed collectively with wood and brick in accordance to operational and financial needs,” he added. “There was a necessity to latch on to the background of this certain location.”
Project credits:
Architect: Paola Carlesso
Assistant Architect: Francesco Covelli
Ground floor plan 
Very first floor strategy 
Area Dezeen
