A farmhouse that respects traditional Piedmont architecture

Innovation, insulation and energy savings in a rural setting

The traditional farm buildings of the Piedmont Valley of Valchiusella are an original architectural treasure of this beautiful alpine valley in the province of Turin. Under the architectural element of the loggia - an external gallery formed by arches on columns, roofed and open on one or more sides - these buildings were widely used in Italy between the 15th and 16th centuries.

They are ancient conceptions, but very modern and very much geared towards making the most of the climate and facilitating the life of the farmers who populated the area, taking advantage of the favourable seasons for sowing and harvesting and the interior of the houses for working the fruit.

Casa Rutnera is a refurbishment project that seeks to combine respect for the tradition and utility of these old buildings with innovative elements in terms of insulation and energy-saving.

The challenge consisted of a complete reconstruction of a small building refurbished in the 1970s using current technology and construction solutions but recalling the forms, materials and usefulness of the old farmhouses in the Valley.

"The possibility of reconstructing the building from the new one allowed us to orient it perfectly towards the south, creating a compact form with large windows facing the valley and the shading facilitated by the same architectural design provided by the overhangs of the roof, the porch and the lobby at the front," explains designer Luca Rinaldi.

During the summer and part of the spring and autumn, the porch and lobby form a unique living space contextually integrated with the surroundings on the ground floor and with breathtaking views with the exit to the outside on the first floor.

It is a small building of less than 100 square metres on two floors that make the best use of space, environment and orientation.

To preserve the traditional look, the designers have kept key elements such as stone tiles, wooden structures and windows and doors, copper gutters and weathered lime.

But to adapt it to the possibilities of 21st-century construction, sustainable and energy-efficient elements have been used for insulation and protection. In the foundations, the versatile extruded polystyrene panels URSA XPS NVIIy XPS PLUS were used to ensure the waterproofing and insulation of the house