Located within the steep terrain of Caviano, Switzerland, the concrete residence by Wespi de Meuron Romeo Architects emerges not as a gesture of dominance but as a measured act of densification. Built on a residual plot measuring just 128 square meters, directly adjacent to the architects’ studio, constructed in 1981, the house redefines the potential of leftover urban space by demonstrating how density, restraint, and contextual fidelity can converge into a formally rigorous and spatially rich work of architecture.
Caviano House Technical Information
- Architects1-12: WDMRA | Wespi De Meuron Romeo Architetti
- Location: 6578 Caviano, Gambarogno, Tessin, Switzerland
- Area: 80 m2 | 860 Sq. Ft.
- Project Year: 2015
- Photographs: © Hannes Henz
The polygonal exterior shape and the steep topography of the site let the building appear as an archaic stone block in middle of the forest.
– WDMRA Architects
Caviano House Photographs
Contextual Framework and Design Strategy
The project originates from a complex matrix of regulatory constraints and site limitations. With boundaries determined by mandatory setbacks from the adjacent road, forest, and neighboring buildings, the permissible building envelope adopts a peculiar pentagonal form. Rather than resisting this irregular geometry, the architects embraced it and embedded a rectilinear volume of 48 square meters within it that houses the essential domestic functions. The juxtaposition of irregular outer form and rational inner core reflects a larger architectural strategy: reconciling regulatory necessity with spatial clarity.
This house was conceived as a primary residence for a family of three. The site’s adjacency to the architecture office demanded technical precision and a sensitive approach to architectural cohabitation. Instead of overpowering the preexisting conditions, the design acts as a counterbalance. It augments the spatial dialogue between built forms, forests, and lakes. The project is an exercise in calibrated intensification, where compactness catalyzes architectural quality.
Spatial Strategy and Sectional Logic
Organized over three levels, the house operates with a vertical clarity that belies its compact footprint. At the top level, aligned with the street, are the public living functions: the kitchen, dining, and living spaces arranged in an open plan. Two facades are left opaque for privacy and insulation; the other two open toward paired courtyards, bringing light, ventilation, and a nuanced relationship with the exterior.
The dual-courtyard system is not a decorative or aesthetic move but a spatial mediator. The mountain-side courtyard serves as a visual and acoustic buffer from the street while admitting sunlight through a narrow aperture. In contrast, the lake-facing courtyard opens to expansive views of Lake Maggiore and the surrounding mountains while reflecting ambient light inward via its closed perimeter walls. Together, these spatial voids transform the living floor into a transitional zone. It is neither fully interior nor exterior but dynamically oscillates between enclosure and exposure.
Descending one level, the second floor contains two bedrooms, each with its loggia. These provide private outdoor extensions that subtly reinforce the verticality of the section. The lower ground floor houses the technical rooms and a small workspace, with service functions embedded within the slope. Light penetrates through the skylight above the stairs, creating a continuity of daylight throughout the stacked program.
Material Expression and Atmospheric Control
Materially, the house speaks a quiet but confident language. Rough-washed concrete clads the exterior. This choice resonates with the surrounding geological textures and reinforces the impression of the building as a monolithic insertion into the hillside. The surface is intended to weather and darken over time, further embedding the structure into its landscape. This raw expression of mass contrasts with the interior, where built-in furniture and fittings designed by the architects create a tactile continuity and spatial discipline.
The integration of art into the architecture adds another layer of authorship. One of the architects, Hanspeter Wespi, contributed two paintings strategically within the house. At the same time, Jérôme de Meuron crafted a wall sculpture that was installed in the living area. These interventions are not ornamental but dialogical. They are extensions of the building’s conceptual and material ethos.
The light strategy is notably precise. Instead of flooding the space, the architects curate a play of illumination that responds to time, season, and orientation. Reflected light from the inner courtyard, filtered sunlight through skylights, and framed views through controlled openings give the interior an almost cloistered character. It is protected yet porous, intimate yet expansive.
Caviano House Plans
Caviano House Image Gallery
About Wespi De Meuron Romeo Architetti
Wespi de Meuron Romeo Architetti is a Swiss architecture studio renowned for its restrained, context-driven designs that harmonize contemporary minimalism with traditional materiality. Based in Caviano, the firm focuses on creating timeless spaces through careful spatial composition, tactile surfaces, and a strong dialogue between architecture and landscape.
Credits and Additional Notes
Engineering: de Giorgi & Partners
Building Physics: IFEC Ingegneria SA
Green Painting (Staircase): Hanspeter Wespi, Mergoscia
Red-Black Painting (Dining Area): Hanspeter Wespi, Mergoscia
Red Wall Sculpture (Living Room): Jérôme de Meuron
Master Builder: Canonica SA, 6600 Locarno
Windows: Morotti GmbH, 6573 Magadino
Plasterer: Paolucci SA, 6710 Biasca
Joiner: Romeo Buss GmbH, 6415 Arth
- Site Area: 128 m²
- Construction Volume: 530 m³
- Construction Cost: CHF 750,000 (excl. VAT)
