Grünberger

Old meets new

NOA completes a traditional urban residential house and adds a contemporary volume, which grows into the vineyards of Gries.

In the vineyard area of Bolzano (IT), a dwelling house for a butcher family is enlarged; the existing traditional volume is extended with a open and modern structure. The site, which is protected, is located in an urban transition zone in between the building development of the outskirts of the city and the denser building development around the area of the Griserplatz.

The house is divided into two apartments, which are made accessible with a prominent outdoor stair from the courtyard. The new volumes have a view into all directions, with idyllic vineyards and the characteristic “Guntschnaberg” in the West.

The aim was to respect the proportions of the historic building. Therefore, the Villa with a pitched roof and classic window openings was amplified with a compact building volume with consistent window cluster and generous openings. The apartments are organised in the way that more intimate spaces are located in the historic part of the house while the living spaces are located in the modern part with a view to south and west.

facade with depth

The diverse formal language of the two building parts create a tension, which is underlined by the finish of the facade: the historic part obtained a white chalked up plaster, the extension competes with a dark-red plaster. The colouring of the plaster itself instead of a coat of paint at the top gives a stoic depth. The two exterior stairs at the north and south facade are made of blackened natural steel and appear as sculptural bridges. The big square façade openings have textile shadow elements, which give a diffuse fog.

“The material penetration of the old and the new create a field of confrontation of the generations – an untamed urge for transformation.”

Stefan Rier

Founder/ Architect

facts & figures

Typology: Private house

Location: Bolzano, South Tyrol (Italy)

Completion: June 2015

Surface area: 310 m2

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