Case del Prato, Zirmerhof

The Case del Prato [which translates as Homes in the Pastures] are two small wooden architectures that add six new rooms to the Hotel Zirmerhof in Redagno di Sopra, in the South Tyrol. The two volumes – an expression of the holistic approach to art, architecture and design of AMDL CIRCLE – have been created with the wood of Vaia, the storm that demolished millions of cubic metres of trees from the woods of Veneto, Trentino Alto Adige, Friuli Venezia Giulia and Lombardy in October 2018, also striking the woods on the outskirts of the Zirmerhof. The project transforms this fallen wood into an installation of art and architecture, where the spaces and objects designed by AMDL CIRCLE are contemplated and completed. The two houses lie along the meadow on a slope facing the large historic farmstead and are inserted as sculptures into the visual sequence formed by the meadow, the Val d’Adige and the Dolomites: all around, only tranquillity and beauty. They replace the old car park, an impactful presence for the guests of the hotel, which has been moved into a hidden corner: so, in the place of cars and concrete, the two volumes create an ideal little piazza welcoming guests to the Zirmerhof. Every detail of the project has been designed to be in dialogue and synergy with nature and with the history and sensibility of the Zirmerhof. Firstly, the decision to build the houses with fallen trees following Storm Vaia: the wood of the recovered fir trees has been used for beams and bearing walls, while formwork, roofs, floors and internal walls have been created with that of the larches. Wood is the major protagonist of the project, chosen for its property of continually modifying and yet remaining in tune with the rhythms of nature, even after being demolished, cut, worked, recomposed. At a formal level, the round lines of the roofs trace the profiles of the barns of the country tradition; the covering with larch shingles takes up an ancient construction technique that is still used in the area of the Dolomites to cover rounded surfaces. Although they have the same soft lines in common, the two houses have different plans: the first is circular and hosts two suites arranged on two levels, the second is linear and welcomes four apartments arranged on two levels, plus a full-height central space for social activities. Both are characterised by panoramic terraces on the upper floor and by the arches of the continuous colonnade on the ground floor, while the design in squares of the doors and windows is inspired by the classic windows of mountain houses. The environment, conceived as a set design, has been installed by Produzione Privata, the firm created by Michele De Lucchi to produce objects with experimental designs and support the craftsmanship sector, enabling CIRCLE to create installations that make objects and interiors grow together with the architecture. It is precisely the precise design of every element that determines the environment’s character of formal modernity, while the high quality of the execution is based on the concrete skills of the craftsmanship. Like many ancient furniture items inside the farmstead, the furnishings of the Case del Prato have been made using walnut wood and are characterised by the baton element typical of the local tradition. From the pattern of the truss ceiling, created in continuity with the walls and floor, to the choice of finishes and the definition of the furnishings, everything has been designed to give rise to a comfortable, relaxing environment. The warm, pleasant atmosphere is achieved thanks to the colours and material qualities of wood and fabrics. The necessary technology is invisible and integrated. The windows are conceived as large display cases that frame the landscape: the gaze is pushed outside to admire nature and the mind finds new vigour.