Casa Conte extends a late-1970s house on a steep alpine slope in South Tyrol, resolving regulatory constraints and topographical pressure through a low, terrain-adapted addition that reinforces spatial autonomy while maintaining continuity with the rural landscape.
Casa Conte Technical Information
- Architects: Messner Architects
- Location: Unterinn am Ritten / Auna di Sotto, Italy
- Project Years: 2021 – 2025
- Photographs: © Karina Castro
The extension is conceived as a continuation of the landscape rather than a visible addition, using section, material, and orientation to define privacy and spatial clarity.
– Messner Architects
Project Context and Topographical Strategy
Casa Conte is situated on a south-facing slope at approximately 990 meters above sea level, overlooking the Dolomites above Unterinn am Ritten. The project occupies the remaining allowable building volume defined by local regulations, positioned directly below an existing residential structure from the late 1970s. This regulatory condition becomes a generative constraint, guiding the extension into a compact, topographically embedded form rather than an outward expansion.
By aligning the new volume with an existing retaining wall, the intervention limits disturbance to the terrain and reduces its visual presence within the landscape. The siting allows the extension to capitalize on uninterrupted long-range views while remaining largely concealed from uphill vantage points. This strategy anchors the building within the slope and reinforces a reading of the architecture as terrain rather than object.
The single-story configuration reflects the dispersed pattern of traditional farmhouses characteristic of the surrounding rural context. Rather than replicating historic forms, the project abstracts their relationship to land and contour, establishing continuity through scale, alignment, and topographical responsiveness.
Spatial Organization and Programmatic Clarity
The extension functions as a self-contained residential unit embedded in the terrain and connected to the original house via a below-grade passage. This separation allows the new dwelling to operate independently while maintaining a discreet internal link. Spatial autonomy is achieved without fragmenting the overall property, privileging section and circulation over physical distance.
Internally, the plan is organized around a centrally positioned living space with an integrated kitchen. Bedrooms and bathrooms are arranged laterally, establishing a clear gradient from communal to private functions. This straightforward layout supports legibility and efficient circulation, reinforced by consistent ceiling heights and controlled openings.
Variations in level and the orientation of exterior spaces further articulate privacy between old and new dwellings. Outdoor areas are carefully positioned to avoid overlap, allowing each unit to engage the landscape without visual intrusion, an approach that extends spatial zoning beyond the building envelope.
Environmental Response and Orientation
Following the natural slope, the extension opens primarily toward the south and southeast, where daylight and views are most expansive. Orientation is used as a passive design tool, shaping the plan and defining the principal living spaces in direct relationship to solar exposure and landscape.
A cantilevered ceiling projects beyond the glazing line, providing seasonal shading to both interior spaces and the terrace. This horizontal element mitigates summer heat gain while allowing lower winter sun to penetrate the living areas. The strategy reduces reliance on mechanical systems and aligns architectural form with climatic performance.
Floor-to-ceiling glazing along the south-facing elevation establishes a continuous visual link between interior and exterior. The boundary between living space and terrace is minimized, allowing the landscape to become a constant spatial reference rather than a framed view.
Material Strategy and Architectural Expression
The exterior is articulated through a restrained palette of exposed concrete, natural stone masonry, and glass. These materials reinforce the building’s tectonic relationship with the terrain, emphasizing weight, texture, and permanence rather than surface articulation. The exposed concrete reads as an extension of the retaining structures that define the site.
Inside, material contrast is used to articulate spatial hierarchy. Rough plaster incorporating local stone aggregates introduces a tactile quality that resonates with the exterior masonry, while smooth plastered surfaces and tiled areas provide visual clarity and ease of maintenance in service spaces.
Chestnut and oak are employed for floors, ceilings, doors, and built-in furnishings, introducing warmth and a domestic scale without resorting to decorative elements. The consistent use of timber defines habitable zones and balances the mineral character of the structure, maintaining a controlled and coherent architectural language.
About Messner Architects
Messner Architects is an architecture studio based in South Tyrol, Italy. The practice focuses on context-driven design, with particular attention to topography, climate, and material authenticity. Their work often explores the integration of contemporary architecture within sensitive natural and rural landscapes, emphasizing spatial clarity, durability, and a restrained material language.
Credits and Additional Notes
- Client: Private
- Structural engineers: Ing. Rodolfo Senoner
- MEP consultants: Markus Pechlaner (HVAC & plumbing); Elektro Messner (electric installations)
- Construction company: Unterhofer (excavation); LobisBau (construction work)
- Surveying & cadastral registration: Geom. Armin Prast
- Glass facade: Finstral
- Wood flooring, wooden ceiling & furniture: Johann Graf
- Tile flooring: Martin Lobis
- Interior doors: Internelement
- Kitchen: Tischlerei Eisath & Lintner
- Plaster work: Stefan Oberkalmsteiner
- Paint work: Daniel Spinell
- Chairs & table: Plank
- Photography: Karina Castro
- Drone footage: Tiberio Sorvillo
