Casa Ojalá / Beatrice Bonzanigo

Indonesia | © Casa Ojalá Srl by Alessandro Parena

Presented at the Milan Design Week in 2019, Casa Ojalá is a bungalow designed by Beatrice Bonzanigo that allows its users to transform the interior configuration through a manual mechanical system. The prototype is currently under construction, and the first deliveries are expected by the end of 2020.

Casa Ojalá Technical Information

• Architects: Beatrice Bonzanigo
• Client: Casa Ojalá Srl (Beatrice Bonzanigo & Ryan Nesbitt)
• Material: Wood and Steel
• Type: House / Bungalow
• Project Year: 2020
• Technical drawings: Simone Dati | © Casa Ojalá Srl
• Visualizations: Alessandro Parena | © Casa Ojalá Srl
• Construction Photographs: Stefano Banfi | © Casa Ojalá Srl

The flexibility of the space is made possible by a manual mechanical system composed of pulleys and cranks, that controls sliding walls (made in fabric and wood) and movable floor and ceiling panels.

– Beatrice Bonzanigo

Casa Ojalá Images & Photographs

Africa | © Casa Ojalá Srl by Alessandro Parena

New Mexico | © Casa Ojalá Srl by Alessandro Parena

Greece | © Casa Ojalá Srl by Alessandro Parena

Stefano Banfi | © Casa Ojalá Srl

Stefano Banfi | © Casa Ojalá Srl

Stefano Banfi | © Casa Ojalá Srl

Stefano Banfi | © Casa Ojalá Srl

Text by the Architects

Casa Ojalá is a small, 27 square meter house with more than 1,000 interior configurations working in synchrony without ever changing the original structure and shape. It is designed to give guests a distinct and exclusive experience: control over their environment while deeply immersed in their surroundings.

Casa Ojalá has two bedrooms (one double and one single bed), a bathroom, a rooftop terrace, and a living space, all of which can be continuously transformed into one another. A bedroom becomes a living room; the living room becomes an extension of the bathroom; the house becomes an outdoor platform, etc. The flexibility of the space is made possible by a manual mechanical system composed of pulleys and cranks, that controls sliding walls (made in fabric and wood) and movable floor and ceiling panels. Built-in central furniture divided into seven slices provides essential functions (wardrobe, bedside tables, bookshelf, sink) and can be pulled out for use or hidden under the floor for storage.

Once assembled, as the house is controlled through its manual mechanical system, it does not need any external assistance. It includes a rainwater collection system and can be equipped with photovoltaic panels and systems for handling clean, gray and black water for truly “off-grid” locations. It is best suited for mild climates, but includes a bio-ethanol stove to knock off an evening chill.

Beyond the day to day mutations – entirely controlled by the guest – nearly all of the surfaces: metal, wood, and fabric are customizable for each Casa Ojalá to recall local traditions and motifs. These options, combined with a choice in environmentally sensitive and sustainable fixtures and furnishings, allow Casa Ojalá to perfectly assimilate with its intended destination, unique as its owner and location.

Casa Ojalá is for the traveler seeking a new experience, one that immerses them in the surrounding nature, free from technology, yet without lacking the luxury of exquisite design and quality craftsmanship and the comforts of home in every thought-out detail. Casa Ojalá adapts to suit the needs of all who seek it out.

The full-scale prototype will be placed in the Italian countryside and made available to the press and prospective clients to experience in real life this fall. Site selection is in progress and will be announced in the coming months.

Casa Ojalá Technical Plans

Simone Dati | © Casa Ojalá Srl

Simone Dati | © Casa Ojalá Srl

Simone Dati | © Casa Ojalá Srl

Casa Ojalá Image Gallery

About Beatrice Bonzanigo

Beatrice graduated in 2009 from the Academy of Architecture of Mendrisio (Switzerland) under the guidance of architects like Peter Zumthor, Valerio Olgiati, the Aires Mateus brothers, and Mario Botta.

After several work experiences abroad, including Sydney and Barcelona, she started to collaborate in Milan with her mother – Architect Isabella Invernizzi. The latter has more than thirty years of experience and success. In 2014, IB Studio (www.ib-studio.eu) was established, specializing in the renovation of farmhouses, villas, and chalets in Italy and abroad. The Studio won several prizes in the past years, including American Architecture Prize for a winery in Tuscany. A tireless traveler, a dancer, and always seeking, in recent years, Beatrice expanded the horizon of IB Studio to Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and the USA in the steady pursuit of new inspirations and freedom of design. She has been invited to speak on architectural innovation at SuperYacht Design Forum in London, KlimaHouse Milan Camp (2019), and for the HOMI fair in Milan (2020).

Other works from Beatrice Bonzanigo