stefano pujatti reinterprets heritage buildings of northern italy with STONED

stefano pujatti, italian architect and founder of elasticoSPA, has completed the residential project entitled STONED. located in the northeastern italian comune of san quirino, the renovation comprises a single family house and an attached guest house. the project is distinguished by its materiality, a reinterpretation of traditional concrete and stone, which speaks to the vernacular of the heritage buildings of the area. pujatti’s inventive use of stone offers a contemporary element which maintains a seamless harmony with its context, as many of the walls of the original structure have been preserved.

images by mattia balsamini and elisabetta crovato

stefano pujatti, founder of architecture and design firm elasticoSPA, integrates contemporary masonry techniques with traditional italian architecture. an arched portico has been retained, offering a framed approach and expressing the rugged materiality of the exterior. pujatti treats the apertures, wall panels, and screens as an harmonious composition with close attention to points of connection and material seams. the two buildings are characterized by an insulated envelope and low energy consumption system. the insulating layer lining the interior is finished with drywall and wood panels which contrast the austerity of the concrete and stone walls.

light serves as a fundamental element of the project. the main house demonstrates a balance between large apertures and small punch windows while a skylight overhead the entrance enhances the perception of the interior space and the play on structural height. large openings facing both south and west are shielded from the sun by a curtain of ‘flying stones,’ lending a distinctive lighting condition with the setting sun. this curtain of stones expresses the traditional materiality with a new ‘cosmetic’ use, redefining the structural hierarchy. STONED has been nominated for the EU mies award 2019.