The 200-year old Casa D’Estate in Linescia, Switzerland lay in disrepair for about 50 years until it was converted into a summer home by Buchner Bründler Architects. The architecture studio literally built a home within a home: While the exterior was left untouched, a concrete shell was constructed to envelope the inside, transforming it into a contemporary space with the rawness and sparseness of its materials.
Its function as a summer house allowed the architects to skip over details such as heating, windows and insulation. From the inside, large oak shutters open up to reveal glimpses of the original interior facade, the presence of the old stone walls complementing the modern steel-clad glass and concrete interiors. A salon, fireplace, mezzanine and a toilet/bath make up the living areas of this wonderfully atypical space.
Images © Ruedi Walti