Cascina Lossano

Concept developed for TerraViva’s Competition: Cascina Lossano. Located in the province of Pavia, the project focused on redesigning an abandoned "cascina" (farm complex) in order to create various forms of housing and communal spaces. The existing site was composed of a stable, a farmer's house, a manor house, a porch, a garage, a pigsty and a pergola. The various structures each had to be approached with different levels of sensibility. The manor house is regarded as historical, therefore the design approach has been conservative, trying to keep the identity of this building alive. While building's like the pigsty and the garage (currently the common area and student house) were of newer construction but irreparable conditions, therefore influencing the choise to dismantle them and replace them with buildings covering their footprints. The concept proposed includes: The Manor house (a three bedroom family home where the only visual changes have been the windows, modernized through added external frames. The Famer's house (hosting two dwellings which have had a less conservative approach compared to the manor house due to the structure’s badly conserved interiors. As a result of this, The existing floors have been completely replaced, allowing for double height spaces. A large opening has been created to the backyard in a wall area that had been identified highly damaged through the photographic survey. The Stable (housing three large dwellings. The approach to the design for this structure has been relatively conservative due to its well-maintained original structure. Vertical connections between the houses have been largely located in the ex-open area which has been closed in order to maximise interior space for the houses. The chosen material for most added elements is wood in order to create a contrast between the old and new , allowing for a clear identification and appreciation of the original structure.) The Porch (housing two dwellings both with two bedrooms. In order to allow for two functioning floors and maximizing space, the ground floor has been lowered by 50cm into the ground. Conceptually, The structure is composed by new concrete “boxes” which are nested in the old porch and never come into contact with it but rather, embraces it’s materiality in specific points, creating a dialogue between the old and modern. The concrete “boxes” hold all living aspects of the dwellings while the circulation between them (both horizontally and vertically) has been created through a wooden and glass walkway which still does not touch the Porch and creates a filter between the old and moder. Allowing users to appreciate both simultaneously. The student homes (Being the old garage that has been demolished and reconstructed as a series of very small apartments intended for students due to the proximity of Cascina Lossano to the center of Pavia (14 minutes by car), thus allowing students to live in closer contact to nature and furthermore creating a larger sense of community in the complex of Cascina Lossa as a result of different types of users which will inhabit it. The common area (replacing the old Pigsty and following its original shape, roof height and roof angle. A extra element present in the ex-pigsty which connected to the old garage has been removed and replaced with greenery. The common area presents a an area to unwind and relax for the residents. Composed of a gym, a pool, a barbecue area and a coworking/ event area.