The tiled roof of this residence in Switzerland has been raised by one metre to give added height for the newly renovated spaces within.
The property, which is owned by an elderly couple and found in the southern Swiss town of Solduno, was refurbished and extended by architect Matteo Inches and his company Studio Inches, primarily based in the nearby city of Locarno.
Although elements of Casa Desgraz date back to the beginning of the 20th century, other folks have been extra as recently as the 1960s, resulting in an amalgamation of several diverse varieties.
But strict local planning restrictions prevented the reasonably new exterior from being significantly altered.
“The undertaking deals with the regional building laws applied to constructions in a protected nucleus zone that do not enable current openings to be modified or the typology of the roof to be altered,” explained Inches.
“Due to these restrictions the structural envelope was not transformed.”
Just inside of the parameters of the restrictions was a small vertical extension, which permitted for an extra metre of wall to be inserted beneath a pitched roof with overhanging eaves.
Whilst the exterior had to remain largely unchanged, Inches took the opportunity to completely gut and rebuild the interior spaces.
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Double-height spaces have been opened up to house a first-floor residing room, and walls and floors had been lined with planks of oak.
“The double-height area in the living space increases the perception of verticality and dimension of the space as properly as making it possible for a visual and acoustic connection in between the sleeping location and the decrease spaces,” said Inches.
“Wood is utilized as the main finishing material it is utilised like a coating that wraps the spaces and increases the perception of becoming enclosed in a personal, warm and domestic atmosphere,” he continued.
The interior layout was reorganised, with utility rooms and a guest suite set at ground level, and the living and dining area positioned on the double-height floor over.
A master suite and en-suite bathroom occupy the uppermost floor, beneath the new roof.
A timber staircase emerges onto an inner balcony to a single side of this upper-floor bathroom, which is contained inside of a curving pod suspended over one particular corner of the lounge.
The small balcony was envisaged as a studying space, so that the couple can “feel the presence of the other particular person despite being on a separate degree”.
Photography is by Simone Bossi.
Task credits:
Architect: Studio Inches
Undertaking team: Matteo Inches, Nastasja Geleta, Vincenzo Rothen
Internet site prepare 
Ground floor program 
First floor prepare 
2nd floor strategy 
