Villa PNK
A country house at the feet of Castel del Monte,
restructured following the dictates of nature and energy efficiency
In Puglia, at the feet of the Frederick's manor, a UNESCO heritage site, is located an innovative private residence, recently renovated to be in perfect balance with the surrounding environment and society. The project of villa PNK has been entrusted to the m12 AD, led by architect Michelangelo Olivieri, who has accepted the challenge of transforming a country house in a sophisticated house, giving it a new appearance, but above all, making it a real example of sustainable and efficient energetically house. The villa PNK has been for years the summer residence of a convivial family that has always opened its doors to family and friends to enjoy a sunny day outdoors, but also for dinners, parties and happy occasions. Today the house is inhabited by the second son of the family, his wife and their two children. m12AD has decided to develop a completely innovative project, rebuilding and redesigning all internal and external areas of the villa, but trying to preserve its convivial soul. "The villa in fact, is designed as a large open space, a fluid space, an almost liquid environment, leading in a large central room, lit by a large skylight, the real heart of the house," says Michelangelo Olivieri. "All the rooms overlook a large living room. A wall, which integrates fireplace and tv system, separates the living room from the bedroom. We have decided to define in this way the rooms of the villa to symbolize the various components of a family who meet and live in a common and welcoming area, full of reassuring light, warmed by the heat of a thermal fireplace, symbol of the hearth."
The PNK villa is an exercise of style and, in addition, an eco-sustainable home. Through modern methods of construction and materials, m12 AD has projected a home with a refined and minimalist look, immersed in the Apulian countryside, characterized by a low thermal mass, ready to face temperature peaks caused by the sun or other heat sources, as well as to control the degree of humidity, without the use of expensive temperature regulation systems and energetically wastes.
The villa PNK exterior cladding is designed as a ventilated facade, covered in Parklex®, a laminboard in natural wood, fire resistant and durable.
Michelangelo Olivieri has selected this material, made of natural wood, to better adapt the villa to the environment and ensuring the maximum permeability of the walls, weather protection and thermal insulation, avoiding condensation.
The skin in Parklex® has been applied on tuff insulated with EPS panels and on a masonry of perforated bricks, spaced by an air chamber. Such stratification has allowed m12AD to give to the walls a perfect insulation thickness. The aluminum frames are also equipped with an internal air chamber in which circulates argon, additional barrier to sunlight, weather and water. The foundations of the house has been emptied and lowered of 60 cm, in order to apply the igloo. This solution has allowed an underground ventilation system, granting the absence of moisture from below.
A perfect balance with the surrounding nature, without disturbing the harmony and highliting the landscape richness. The north and the facades in fact, have windows to enjoy the view of the old pine trees. The interior design has respected the environmentally and socially sustainable rules: m12 AD fact, in fact, has projected the kitchen, wardrobes and the bathroom furniture, using wood covered with natural resin and made by local craftsmen. "The villa PNK represents an important milestone for us, regarding both the environmental sustainability and the architectural composition. We had to renovate a rustic building and the customer had the desire to turn it into a modern environment from all points of view, energy-efficient, functional and projected with an avant-garde style, without changing the existing walls, the backbone of the house. So we have proceeded with a structural reinforcement with steel beams and have opened windows and skylights "says Michelangelo Olivieri.
