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The design idea emerged from the desire to engage with the historical and material complexity of a layered building, located at the highest point of a historic village at the foot of Monte Donato. The concept was developed through a careful reading of the building’s transformations over time—from the extensions added after its original construction, to the damage suffered during World War II, and the partial reconstructions using salvaged materials. The intervention aimed to preserve and enhance this constructive memory, integrating new contemporary structural elements in a formal balance that does not erase but rather amplifies the historical identity of the building.
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The project is set within a context rich in identity, one of the so-called “borghi gessaioli,” small settlements that developed around open-pit gypsum quarries, now decommissioned but still visible in the landscape. Borgo Case, in particular, is characterized by modest dwellings, often self-built, using humble materials such as gypsum blocks and stones from the nearby Savena stream. The intervention engages in a respectful dialogue with this built landscape, restoring the existing historic parts and introducing new volumes that reinterpret traditional proportions and materials through a contemporary lens. The design aims for formal and material continuity, integrating seamlessly into a dense, layered urban fabric without disrupting its equilibrium. The building is listed so the volumes have remained unchanged.
The building underwent a comprehensive energy retrofit, improving all envelope components to minimize winter heat loss and enhance thermal inertia during the summer. The remaining, very limited energy demand is met by a low-temperature radiant heating system, optimized for use with an electric-powered air-to-water heat pump and integrated with photovoltaic panels. The house is certified as Energy Class A4, the highest level NZeb. The materials used for the thermal envelope are EPD-certified, ensuring a high recycled content and a careful assessment of the construction system’s full life cycle. The building has also achieved the highest standards of resistance to seismic actions.
The new east elevation redefines the façade by reconfiguring the existing openings and introducing a subtle shift between the windows on the two levels, highlighting the contemporary character of the intervention without erasing the memory of the past. On the north side, a large window opens onto the adjacent park, while a small bow window with plants enlivens the glazed surface. The house unfolds over two levels plus a basement. The entrance is marked by a custom-designed iron staircase, a lightweight architectural feature with strong material and formal presence that embodies the dialogue between tradition and modernity. On the ground floor, the bedrooms preserve original stone walls interspersed with reclaimed bricks. The upper level is a spacious open-plan area, where large openings frame views of the landscape and a flexible lighting system defines the functional zones of the living area. The gabled roof is slightly lifted by a recessed exposed concrete seismic curb, articulating the transition between old and new. The study, with three windows on different walls, offers panoramic views and features a custom bookshelf made from reinforced concrete rods—a raw, essential element in harmony with the building’s expressive context. Inside, iron, stone, wood, and brick define an authentic material palette. The small rooftop garden frames the hillside landscape and is enclosed by a gate made of reinforcing steel, continuing the project’s material language.
"It was pure madness—being the client, the builder, and the architect all at once. But hey, at least I always won the arguments!" - Luigi Benatti
Thinking of the project as a cognitive process for investigating the reality of a place defines the creative research of Luigi Benatti, partner at TECO+partners, an architecture studio based in Bologna. The firm consists of a team of over 30 professionals, including 6 partners, and is active in the design of residential buildings, educational facilities, sports complexes, student housing, office spaces, and industrial headquarters in Italy and abroad.
The architectural approach is driven by the pursuit of revealing and embracing the intrinsic meaning of a place, through a constant exploration of the relationship between the project and its context. Each project is conceived as a dialogue between space, function, and identity, aiming to improve the quality of urban spaces and the lives of those who inhabit them. Among the firm’s most significant works are residential complexes and student housing, numerous educational buildings across Italy, and major sports infrastructures.
