March 2001
June 2002
Cernobbio - Como
Italy
residential
18 mq
privat

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GREEN HOUSE in CERNOBBIO
The single most economical building in Italy when it was included in the Phaidon Atlas of 21st-Century World Architecture in 2008, the limonaia nonetheless holds  some of my most personal ideas in a nutshell.

A small villa and garden above Cernobbio (Lake Como) were designed for the same client in 1995-98, and, most recently, ernlargeded by the addition of  a garden apartment. The greenhouse, built in 2001-2002, negotiates the narrow tread on the slope and nestles between retaining walls of local rubble stone, securing the right exposure to sunlight while protecting the citrus trees from wind and chill. In the rear, a trough assures proper drainage and sliding panes of polycarbonate help calibrate heat convection.
The roof is glazed with tempered glass panes and the entire structure is framed with brushed steel profiles that were custom assembled for the pavilion. The overall effect is one of extreme lightness and unobtrusive presence in a fabled landscape. In order to achieve this objective, the pavilion’s parts needed to be minimial, while promising an extended lifespan. Conservatories have a long history of architectural experimentation, seeking to match virtually invisible structures with atmospheric properties.