The rigid and linear human-made landscape communicates with the fluid and nascent order of nature in a multitude of ways. In the commotion-suffused metropolises, domineering concrete cuboids dictate the skylines—defined by architecture that ‘stands out’ and is often ahead of natural ecosystems. Sometimes, however, architecture chooses to be silent, almost like a canvas animated only with the colours of its milieu—a mise-en-scène defined by harmony. This residence amidst the sweeping greens of Sant’Elena, Italy, takes shape in accordance with the preexisting mould of its porch and the surrounding parks.

Venice-based architecture firm MIDE Architetti has dealt with a range of projects in the spheres of urban design, architecture and interior design. The firm’s distinctive style displays a propensity for simplicity of lines, purity of volumes, and thorough attention to details, fixtures, and material selection. Their recent residential design in Sant'Elena echoes these very tenets: a house with a large porch. The single-floor house, as per the client’s wishes, is delineated by simple lines and allows the users to enjoy the surrounding parks.

The large south-facing open space of the living room acts as a glass box mirroring the park, protected by a large porch. The sleeping area is more introspective; the external walls are of concrete and have geometric openings in the garden. The large flat roof ties all the rooms of the house together and provides adequate protection. The porch is a composition of light wells that receive the trees, fortifying the synergy between the residence and the surrounding park. Glass, wood and a reddish tone of the concrete, all connected with the Venetian terrazzo flooring—the material palette is intentionally limited to align with the project concept.

What fuels each project by the Venetian firm is the functional analysis of the client’s needs and a thorough understanding of the site—culminating in a cocoon that responds to both. Delving deeper into the foundation of the project, STIR speaks with Marco Rizzi, architect with MIDE Architetti.

STIR: Can you please take us through the conceptualisation of the project?

Marco Rizzi: The concept of the house is focused on the dualism between the raw sensation of concrete and the gentle touch of the context.

STIR: The residential structure is situated in Sant’Elena, Italy. Could you describe the neighbourhood to us? Does the architecture draw influences from the language permeating the region?

Marco: Sant'Elena is a town near Padua, a city in northeastern Italy. The main characteristic of this territory is the urban sprawl which is inserted into predominantly peasant territories with the presence of cultivated land and old farmhouses overlooking the Berici Hills. In this context, our project is inserted as an element of fracture in the stylistic elements but relates to the history of the place through the reinterpretation of the relationship with the outside.

STIR: Although the house features fairly simple lines, the large curved walls are striking elements. What inspired this geometry and how did you weave it into the structural framework?

Marco: Digging inside this stereometric concrete block we realised that we had to balance the raw sensation of the concrete through a geometric graft that softened the entire structure. We, therefore, inserted the curved line that returns to the interior of the project in several points (corners of the house, of the windows, of the patios) but also in the way in which the pillars of the portico delicately touch the floor.

STIR: The porch is the protagonist in the project. What inspired the design of this space? Could you elaborate on the components you used to build the inside-outside relationship?

Marco: The portico is the compositional theme of the project. The external space was designed not to be a mere palimpsest but wants to tell, through the concatenation of different moments along the external portico, a sequence of moments: an entrance space always with a relationship with the greenery through the patio, the extension of the living area towards the garden maintaining the projection to experience the external space in continuity with the internal one, a hybrid space again but more domestic again in communication with the park also thanks to the patio where an outdoor living area can be placed.

STIR: Despite a softly curving shell, the interior spaces are planned with a seeming linearity. What did you want the flow of spaces to achieve and convey?

Marco: The interior spaces are characterised by clean and minimal lines softened by the warm textures of the wood and embellished with a Venetian terrace. The succession of spaces is designed so that the living area spaces dissolve into one another, while the living area develops along the backbone of the corridor.

STIR: The layout of the house is spread across a single floor. Was limiting the project to the ground a deliberate choice?

Marco: From the point of view of the functional organisation of the house, each project has its own complexities. In this case, the rationality of the plan helped to organise the different aspects of the home such as views, exposure, internal well-being, and the customer's needs.

STIR: Your projects are primarily driven by functional analysis and client’s needs. How do you balance these requisites with your creative expression?

Marco: We always try to find a compromise. Sometimes it is more complex than others, but our clients also come to us because they share our vision of architecture.

STIR: What are some of the significant materials and construction processes employed in the architecture?

Marco: Concrete is certainly the most used material, in this case pigmented pink. We like materials that can be tamed and can convey both softness and a raw sensation, always with the idea of creating something unique and exceptional.

STIR: How do you incorporate sustainability into your practice? Has it been considered in the architectural design of this project?

Marco: Our idea of sustainability passes through good architecture. Within the sustainability container, there are many aspects: the life cycle of materials and buildings, energy and raw material sustainability, the orientation of buildings, and their impact in the context. We try to condense these aspects through good everyday practice without focusing on easy clichés that may be trendy momentarily but which do not allow us to be truly sustainable in the long run.

STIR: What is NEXT for you?

Marco: We have many interesting projects on the table, both residential, office and public. At the moment our studio has many active construction sites and the next challenge will be to maintain the same level of detail and quality even in the growing number of projects in which we are involved.