Palazzo Restellini
In the heart of Intra (Verbania), just a stone's throw from the shores of Lake Maggiore, Palazzo Restellini is inaugurated, an elegant piece of residential architecture that transforms a former industrial area into an urban regeneration project. Designed by the Milan architecture studio Piuarch on the initiative of Aedes, a construction company active in Valdossola, the project gives back to the city a space that had remained unused for years, redefining the relationship between architecture, landscape and community.
The four-storey building houses 29 residential units, ranging in size from 29 to 135 square metres, and stands out on the local residential scene for its rigorous yet sinuous architecture that recalls the aesthetic codes of modernism. Essential lines and light volumes create a coherent harmony capable of connecting spaces and heights in a visual continuum, while large openings dialogue with the landscape, dissolving the boundaries between inside and outside.
The large balconies, a distinctive element of the building, give visual lightness and a sense of openness towards the landscape, amplifying the perception of suspension in the void thanks to a careful study of the proportions between height and depth. The parapets, made with a self-supporting triangular system, guarantee aesthetic continuity without structural interruptions and emphasise the sense of openness and luminosity. The minimalist taste is also reflected in the choice of materials and colours: white plaster with slightly contrasting textures is warmed by wooden ceilings.
As evidence of the site's manufacturing history, a section of the façade of the old factory from the early 20th century has been preserved, framing the gardens surrounding the residential building to the south, which is also accessible to non-residents.
From an urban void to a symbol of regeneration, Palazzo Restellini is an example of how architecture can create value for the city, fostering a new balance between historical memory and contemporary language.
