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This is the project related to a two-family villa in Termini Imerese, a city in the Palermo area. The region is characterised by a strong contrast between the natural and industrial landscapes. In fact, on one side we find the San Calogero mount and the seaside while on the other are located buildings and factories with a huge environmental impact.
Responding to the site features, the project focuses on integrating the natural element within the architecture and, at the same time, on hiding the nearby factories.
The architecture was created adhering to the morphological configuration of the site, following its terracing as it is clearly apparent on the lower floor of the villa. The project includes two houses of around 150 square metres, developed into two levels: a basement occupied by the more intimate spaces of the house, and an upper floor where private spaces and common areas alternate.
Access to the two houses is allowed by two promenades: one has a secret garden, while the other has an incredibly evocative underground passage that benefits from the light reflections on the water of the pool. The outdoors landscape penetrates into the living room through large glass windows, bringing about a strong emotional impact to the whole interior. The two courtyards, featuring very few architectural and natural elements, are intended to be contemplation spaces, with an undeniable poetic strength.
Main perspective view of the villa, characterised by the strong natural landscape of the San Calogero mount.
The project that won the prestigious award was the Villa C|U, a two-families residence located on the slopes of the San Calogero mount in the Termini Imerese area, close to Cefalù.
The Selinunte event, called Play with Identities – everything is history, everything is contemporary had been promoted by AIAC, Associazione Italiana di Architettura e Critica (“Italian Architectural and Critic Association”), was chaired by the architecture critic Luigi Prestinenza Puglisi, and Studio La Monaca, in collaboration with the Municipalities of Castelvetrano and Selinunte, the Architects National Council CNAPPC, the Archaeological Park of Selinunte, the Architects Order of the Trapani province.
A rich and intense program of conferences, lectures, installations and performances took place during three day in the Selinunte Theatre and the Archaeological Park of Selinunte. Over 200 architects, designers, urban planners and other experts discussed different topics related to the relation between history and the contemporary. The keynote from Andrea Bartoli, promoter of the Farm Cultural Park of Favara, on urban redevelopment was particularly appreciated.
Furthermore, during the final night the Selinunte International Award was presented by William Curtis, worldwide renowned critic, to the Catalan design studio RCR arquitectes – Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem e Ramon Vilalta – already winner of the Pritzker Award in 2017.
A pillar, structural element of the house, sensually dives directly into the pool.
The shaded porch is framed by the pool on the sea side and by the olive tree grove on the mount side.
The patio is conceived as a metaphysical space with a high poetic energy.
The patio separates the living ares of the two residential units, ensuring to both their privacy.
