Ciclostile Architecture reinvented a local farmhouse in Marzabatto, Bologna in a project that underlines the essential relationship between architecture and the natural landscape it inhabits. Ca’Inua, named after the Inuit word for ‘the essence of all things’, is a home heavy with history, reconstructed with the original stones of the demolished farmhouse. The fact that its lower level is partially embedded into the ground gives the project a solid connection, physically and symbolically, to nature.

Ca’Inua is a renovation of three volumes: the main house with its stone base, a new cantilevered wooden level that sits on top of it, and the adjoining barn. Fir wood is used prominently throughout the interiors, creating a cozy ambiance fitting of a traditional farmhouse. Social areas are allocated to the lower level, with a wooden staircase leading to the private areas on the second floor. 

Anticipating the cold, damp winters and muggy summers of the region, the studio used charred wood alongside heavy stone for its durability and resistance.  Insulation was also updated to a photovoltaic panel system for heating and cooling. The barn was renovated minimally for the meantime, and is being used as a storage space while awaiting future interventions.

Ciclostile Architecture operates in the fields of architecture and planning, with a particular focus on urban regeneration, building rehabilitation and planning. Visit their website and Instagram. 

Photography © Fabio Mantovani for Ciclostile Architecture