Project: Alpine Dwelling
Date: 2023
Location: Montes, Trento, IT
Scale: Medium

At the foothills of the Italian Alps, a dialogue between wood and concrete emerges through a woven timber grid encircling a concrete core among vernacular buildings. The concrete core comprises a raft-like ground level housing public functions such as a community hall and temporary shop, alongside a central vertical circulation tower. Two apartments are contained within the wooden appendages, stacked diagonally, requiring a complex network of connections. The layout combined with the steep terrain and the public program below amplify the importance of the transition and connection spaces, notably in the vertical direction.

The design principle stems from site’s layered structure: mountains surrounding the valley, valley surrounding the pine forest, forest surrounding the hamlet; seeking to replicate the compression and expansion experienced when moving through these layers. This is achieved through a lightweight wooden matrix contrasted with a dense concrete monolith piercing the roof. The concrete core is subdivided into chutes of varying dimensions that channel diffused light from the north-facing slope into staircases and apartment entrances, reinforcing the sense of compression within connective spaces.

The tessellative cubic grid allows the timber structure to span the façade and form a surrounding portico adding yet another layer to the project. This timber veil varies in density to balance light intake, visual permeability, and structural support. In contrast, the concrete core is made up of a denser, tighter grid that acts as the building’s main structural element, housing an equally dense and complex network of connective spaces with tailored chute dimensions for specific landings, stair ramps, and entrances.