Villa EB is a stunning property situated on the hills in the southwestern region of Bolzano, along the famous Wine Route. It boasts curved shapes, large windows, and materials that beautifully blend with the colours of nature. The surrounding landscape comprises vineyards and small forests; however, the primary view is often interrupted by new private villas constructed over the last few decades, slowly altering the natural scenery. To preserve the harmony of the environment, Villa EB was created with the intention of blending seamlessly with the shapes and colours of the adjacent landscape. The two-family house resulted from a complex renovation of a pre-existing villa built in the early 1960s, which, despite being made of high-quality materials, lacked modern standards and features.
The previous design of the house was very closed off, with minimal glass features and limited views of the surrounding landscape. However, the new owners had a different vision for their home. They wanted a modern design that would seamlessly blend with the natural environment, allowing for expansive windows and a connection to nature. The building is disguised by the slope of the land and a tiled roof, with a stone-paved path leading down to the living area below street level. The metal sheet cladding, designed with voids, adds to the camouflage effect and the terraces have glass railings to avoid obstruction. The curved design of the terraces is enhanced by stones of the same color as the roof tiles, creating a cohesive look.
The house’s exterior boasts expansive living areas on both the ground and upper floors, seamlessly connected to the interior through sliding doors. The wooden ceiling cladding in these spaces provides a beautiful contrast to the gray floors, reminiscent of the natural contrast between stone and wood. Every corner of the house offers breathtaking views, including the bathroom on the first floor with a bathtub placed near a curved glass wall, giving the illusion of being outdoors.
Inside, a stunning spiral staircase made of metal and wood follows an organic form, connecting the ground and first floors and topped by a large oval skylight. This skylight creates a harmonious relationship between light and matter that is visible from a zenithal view. The infinity pool blends perfectly into the landscape, completing the continuity between the house, hill, and sky.
These design elements reflect the choice of external materials such as the “Mönch und Nonne” tiled roof, where the lower “nun” tile interlocks with the upper “monk” tile; “Pfitscher Gneiss” natural stone walls; exposed wood cladding; and architectural elements in earth-brown metal sheet. To create spacious living areas without compromising form and function, the project also utilized spatial expedients such as increased net heights on each floor and remodeled dividing walls in the living area on the ground floor.
