Situated on a south-facing slope at 990 meters above sea level, above Unterinn am Ritten in Northern Italy, the property consists of a house dating from the late 1970s. This structure is undergoing an expansion.

The remaining, from local building rules permitted building volume is strategically located below the existing house, adjacent to an existing retaining wall. A wide, unobstructed view opens up, revealing a stunning panorama onto the Dolomites.

Subtly integrated into the surrounding topography, the extension is embedded within the natural terrain. In the context of the scattered, traditional farmhouses characteristic of the rural landscape, the single-story volume seamlessly follows the contour of the slope.

The main structure and its extension are interconnected below grade. The varying levels, circulation routes, and the orientation of the outdoor spaces have been designed to ensure privacy for the residents.

Following the natural slope, the single-story volume opens to the south and southeast. The newly added unit consists of a centrally located living area with an integrated kitchen, flanked by bedrooms and bathrooms.

The topographical orientation requires a precise response to solar exposure. The cantilevered ceiling provides shading for both the interior and the terrace during the summer months, preventing direct sunlight and mitigating the risk of overheating. The floor-to-ceiling glazing facing the terrace blurs the boundary between interior and exterior spaces.

Exposed concrete, natural stone masonry, and glass define the building’s external appearance. Internally, rough plaster tinted with local stone aggregates, together with the use of chestnut and oak for flooring, ceilings, doors, and built-in furnishings, contrasts with the smooth plastered walls, tiled surfaces, and monochrome furniture fronts.

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CASA CONTE - countryhouse annex

Unterinn, Italy

Other Projects by Messner Architects

LIL' RASCALS - Interior Design

RVTK - Renovation and extension of a residential building

FIREPLACE - Showroom for a stove maker

TRA VIGNE E MONTI - Remodeling a 1960s home

20/A - Artist studio

HIBISCUS STUDIO

CASA LUIS

ZENTRAL - Café Restaurant

KNOTTNKINO³ - Nature cinema

BELLA VISTA II - Dolomites UNESCO Viewpoint Mastlè

SAINT JOSEPH IN THE WOODS

CASA PLONER

SCENA PARISH CHURCH

SETBACKS

JURI 2.1 - Stage design

GRID II - Sculpture in a garden

GRID I - Desk

GROCERY STORE

BELLA VISTA I _Dolomites UNESCO Viewpoint Monte Specie

GREEN & BLUE - 2 Bathrooms

CASA CONTE - countryhouse annex

Unterinn, Italy

Product Spec Sheet

Collaborating Firms

Team

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CASA CONTE - countryhouse annex

Unterinn, Italy

Other Projects by Messner Architects

LIL' RASCALS - Interior Design

RVTK - Renovation and extension of a residential building

FIREPLACE - Showroom for a stove maker

TRA VIGNE E MONTI - Remodeling a 1960s home

20/A - Artist studio

HIBISCUS STUDIO

CASA LUIS

ZENTRAL - Café Restaurant

KNOTTNKINO³ - Nature cinema

BELLA VISTA II - Dolomites UNESCO Viewpoint Mastlè

SAINT JOSEPH IN THE WOODS

CASA PLONER

SCENA PARISH CHURCH

SETBACKS

JURI 2.1 - Stage design

GRID II - Sculpture in a garden

GRID I - Desk

GROCERY STORE

BELLA VISTA I _Dolomites UNESCO Viewpoint Monte Specie

GREEN & BLUE - 2 Bathrooms

CASA CONTE - countryhouse annex

Unterinn, Italy

Product Spec Sheet

Collaborating Firms

Team