A timber framed villa among the vineyards of the Adige Valley

A

villa surrounded by the family’s vineyards: this house has been the owner’s lifelong dream and in the end it was built in under four months. This is the story of the Cipriani family, the owners of an important agricultural business and who have always been wine producers. Today finally, they can look out of the large windows and catch a glimpse of their vineyards among the surrounding woods and fields. The location of this recent, everyday pleasure is Ala, a tiny hamlet between Verona and Trento in the Adige Valley.

The villa with the spacious terrace covered by the veranda, the owner’s favourite spot.

This home is the result of the refurbishment of a simple villa from the ‘60s. Its row-house structure was extended with a timber framed building, hence the extremely short construction period. Designed by the architect Giorgio Losi of Plan Architettura, the project was constructed by Rubner Haus, a firm from Alto-Adige that specialises in timber framed houses and that has turned into its strength the ability to combine the regional tradition with swift and precise cutting-edge technology.

Large sliding doors open the dining room onto the splendid landscape that surrounds the home.

This villa surrounded by vineyards is an excellent example of sustainable architecture. Besides the fact that it was quick to build and constructed from sustainable materials, the villa’s timber framed structure with a thermally insulated frame is highly energy efficient too. Despite its large windows, the multitude of loggias and balconies, Villa Cipriani is part of the energy class A.
The construction materials are supplied in an environmentally friendly way as well, a fact that was stressed by the Rubner Group itself: three trucks are needed for the construction of a 100mq timber framed house, compared to the twenty required for the equivalent building in masonry, resulting in a reduced fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions.

The dining room with the large table where the host welcomes friends for the tastings of his wines.

Soft nuances and natural materials create a welcoming and soothing atmosphere.

In the interiors, a lot of wood and soft colours in different shades unify the diverse range of pieces, part of the décor scheme. Modern design, shabby chic furniture and traditional, vernacular pieces blend together to create a welcoming and soothing effect.

With a romantic style and a simple décor, the interiors combine all the favourite pieces of the lady of the house.

Extremely spectacular, the staircase is the most innovative part of the refurbishment of the old ‘60s villa. Sinuous and elegant, its elliptical shape is stressed by the juxtaposition of the wood and the white of the load-bearing masonry structure.

A view of the stairwell. Right-hand side, the master bedroom, simple with a romantic touch.

In the bathroom, a winning combination of modern design and vernacular wooden furniture.

Natural, sustainable and filled with the love of people who have finally realized their dreams, the villa of the Cipriani family conveys the same serenity and wellbeing of the materials around us as well as of the surrounding environment. From tradition to modernity, an example of architecture that respects the environment.

Design project

Refurbishment and extension of a countryside family villa
Location: Ala, Trentino Alto Adige, Italy

Architectural project:
PLAN Architettura Srl
Arch. Giorgio Losi
www.plan-architettura.it

Construction project:
Rubner Haus, timber framed buildings
www.haus.rubner.com

Photos:
Courtesy Gruppo Rubner