Set in what was once a thick pine needle forest, a terraced landscape was carefully carved out opening up the house to the expansive lake beyond and a stunning, 180 view of sunsets over the surrounding mountains. The villa’s form undulates to create alternating internal rooms and external terraces like a series of fingers moving between inside and outside as they reach into the landscape.
At its heart is a central atrium housing a 70-year old bonsai tree. The bonsai garden and atrium is open to the sky flooding the residence with natural light and visually connects the surrounding rooms and central staircase, whilst acting as a rain water collector and a passive air system for the villa. Complementing these systems: solar panels, rain water collecting and heat pumps help to produce 60% of the villa’s sustainable energy.
From the villa’s interiors. the landscape terraces down to the waterfront, providing plenty of moments for pause and reflection starting the day with harvesting vegetables from the organic garden for breakfast to dinner to gathering around the outdoor fire-pit after sunset. Each of these moments have become part of the client’s daily routine facilitated by an architecture that allows them to live, breathe, and play in this sustainable and comfortable ambience.
Project name: Villa Mosca Bianca
Architects: Design Haus Liberty – https://dhliberty.com/
Location: Lago Maggiore, Lesa, Italy
Area: 10,000 ft²
Year: 2019
Photographer: Adrien Dirand – http://www.adriendirand.com/
Landscape Architect: Colin Okasimo Associates
Local Architect: Roberto Manzetti