PONTO VALENTINO

Location: Ponto Valentino, Acquarossa (TI) - Switzerland

Status: Ongoing / 2023 -

Area: 230 sqm

Type: Residential renovation

The restoration of this stately building, originally conceived as a shared residence for multiple families, is the project of an english couple living in the area, with the aim of creating a future retreat; it’s a deeply personal intervention, conceived as a gradual and measured process, intended to transform the house into a place of gathering and continuity over time. The design involvement takes the form of a discreet yet decisive support for the owners, particularly regarding communication and coordination with local craftsmen.

Built in 1895, the building preserves the characteristic features of traditional Lombardo-Ticinese architecture with simplified Neoclassical influences. Located in a striking position overlooking an open valley and surrounded by mountains, it retains all its historic facade elements: wooden doors, wrought-iron grilles with floral motifs, moldings, original colors, and a devotional affresco dating back to the original construction.

Initial interventions have focused on upgrading the building systems to improve comfort and efficiency, as well as replacing the windows with high-performance larch frames, in keeping with the original aesthetic. Internally, the spaces will be reorganized to meet the family’s needs, revising circulation and some room functions, while enhancing existing materials - granite, wood, clay, and plaster - and integrating them with a classical language reinterpreted in a contemporary key.