CASA VALLE
Some buildings manage to outlive their original purpose, adapting organically to change without losing their identity. This austere rural structure, standing on the hills of Reggio Emilia, was originally a barn and tool shed and remained abandoned for years. Bought by a young couple eager to live close to nature, it is now being completely renovated to become their home and workspace for remote work.
The building’s original volume has been largely preserved, while its character has been reinterpreted around a key duality: the west façade, with small openings for the bedrooms, contrasts with a fully glazed rear façade, open to the landscape and the rhythms of the seasons. This is where daily life unfolds—the living area on the ground floor and two home offices upstairs for the owners’ professional work.
These two façades represent the two faces of the countryside: one harsh, shaded, resistant to change, like farm work and ancient rural traditions; the other soft, open, and bright, like the landscape stretching endlessly beyond the full-height windows.
A system of curtains mediates between inside and out, acting as a movable screen: opening the house to the view or shielding it to provide privacy and shade—a constant balance between architecture and landscape. For the bedrooms and service areas, external shutters with double-leaf frames ensure proper shading and privacy.
In contrast to the traditional exterior, the interiors reflect a contemporary way of living: bright, spacious, defined by neutral colors and the wide glazed openings. The result is an expanded, airy living environment.
