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The Casa PB project was initiated under the Italian Home Plan (Piano Casa) and it consisted in building a detached house on an area previously occupied by two above-ground garages. The Home Plan, an extraordinary measure which permitted its construction, allowed a certain degree of expansion of existing buildings in derogation of the urban planning instruments in force. The project therefore qualifies as an expansion of the adjacent residential unit, with which it shares the garden. Precise restrictions in terms of achievable volume were the first project elements to respect. Built in reinforced concrete, it rests on a podium and it’s distinguished by the unique shape of its roof: a single surface that follows the direction of the wall with a sharp turn, crossing the exposed brick façade.
The extruded bricks on the outside make the house blend in well with its surroundings: most of the housing in the street where Casa PB is located consists of buildings with exposed brick walls. The architectural language of this new building, however, aims to reinterpret the use of bricks in a more contemporary perspective and to bring quality architecture to a less prestigious suburban context. While exposed bricks were chosen for the enclosure, travertine was the material of choice for the podium the house rests on: yet another tribute to ancient Rome that takes on a new, modern perspective.
For the ventilated roof, painted metal sheets were selected and installed on-site with meticulous craftsmanship using a double-lock standing seam technique. This method enables the creation of a contemporary aesthetic using a cost-effective material. Prefalz aluminium sheets, available in a wide range of colours, were chosen in grey for Casa PB, complementing the brick façade. Moreover, the double-lock standing seam technique allows for a high level of detail in the connection between the roof and the façade.
Casa PB features a layered wall system: interior plaster, lightweight hollow bricks aligned with structural pillars, rock wool insulation, and an external façade of extruded bricks. This design contributes to its A4 energy efficiency rating. The roof integrates photovoltaic panels generating ~2 kW of electricity and three solar thermal panels supplying hot water and powering underfloor heating. Rainwater from the roof is collected via downspouts into a 4,500-litre underground polyethylene tank for garden irrigation. Casa PB was shortlisted for The Plan Award 2022 and featured in Platform magazine's “Best Houses Design Selection”.
Casa Pb is the project of a very tiny house in a peripheral area. The design challenge that has been faced consisted in creating a quality architecture in a marginal and poorly cared for context, that should be well integrated with the surroundings but with a contemporary language. For this reason, local materials from the Roman construction tradition were used: brick and travertine, but reinterpreted in a contemporary key.The aim was to obtain a comfortable and cozy house in a few square meters and at the same time an eco-sustainable and attentive to energy saving house. Even though it is a small house, it is very enjoyable thanks to the privileged relationship it deserves with the garden. The living room and kitchen, where most time is spent, overlook the back of the lot which hosts the most intimate part of the garden, quieter than the nearby street. The podium makes for an outdoor extension of the living room itself since it has the same height as the inside and is covered by the projecting balcony on the first floor, allowing residents to eat or relax outdoors for most of the year.
Francesca Pierucci is a freelance architect with over a decade of experience.
She is also a PhD Student at "La Sapienza" University, where She is attending a Doctorate in "Architettura. Teorie e Progetto".
Her specialisations are residential architecture and interior design.
After studying at “La Sapienza” University in Rome, mentored by Professor O. Carpenzano, she obtained her professional license in 2008.
She is a licensed building site safety officer in accordance with Italian legislative decree 81/2008.
After winning a Leonardo scholarship, she worked in Architect C. Ferrater’s studio in Barcelona from 2008 to 2009 where She participated, among others, in the design of the “Roca Barcelona Gallery” building; back in Rome, she cooperated with Architect R.Liorni’s studio where she deepened her knowledge of residential design.
She personally follows the entire workflow of her projects.
