Sensitive integration in a heritage setting

This holiday home on Lake Garda is located within a protected heritage zone in Toscolano-Maderno. Set in a spacious garden of mature vegetation, the project was developed through a private competition and refined over time in collaboration with the local heritage conservation office. The extended planning process allowed the design to fully integrate with its lakeside surroundings while maintaining a respectful relationship with the original structure.

Blending architecture with the landscape

The extension to the existing house opens out onto a garden of century-old palm trees and lemon orchards. Made from black-pigmented concrete and extensive glazing, the low-profile volume doubles as a terrace for the main house. Experimental windows that sink into the floor, together with continuous stone flooring, erase the line between inside and out. Even part of the original façade becomes an interior wall, reinforcing the architectural continuity.

Material contrast and spatial harmony

The dark concrete of the new structure contrasts with the pale plastered stone of the original building while establishing a calm visual rhythm. Glazed surfaces reflect the lush surroundings, helping the structure recede into its setting. The addition enhances rather than dominates, creating a sense of spatial layering between past and present. These subtle shifts in material and form preserve the character of the site while expanding its function.

A Mediterranean atmosphere completed by water

A pool positioned between the lemon grove and palm trees adds to the tranquil atmosphere, anchoring the design in a distinctly Mediterranean context. Completed in 2017 and spanning 250 m², the project by Bergmeisterwolf Architekten exemplifies a nuanced approach to contemporary design within a sensitive landscape. Its success lies in the careful balance of bold intervention and contextual awareness.

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