Como Lakehouse

Written by Omar Dahabra

Location: Como Lake, Italy
Year: 2024
Architects: Gregorio Pecorelli studio
Photography by: Francesca Ióvene

Gregorio Pecorelli Studio has completed the renovation of a house on the shores of Lake Como, originally built in the early 20th century above an old dock. The building, whose original form and characteristic vaulted entrance—allowing access by water—have been preserved, now incorporates a contemporary space where the unique features of the location and the structure are reinterpreted.

•    The house is the result of a meticulous restoration that defines a contemporary space with essential and rigorous forms, perfectly harmonizing with the romantic charm of the original structure.
•    Water, a central element of the project, physically enters the old dock, illuminating the interiors with shimmering reflections and creating a profound connection between the place and the architecture.
•    The custom-designed fixed furniture, crafted with local materials and artisanal expertise, creates an inviting and enduring environment, blending with the historic masonry to enhance its identity.

The waters of Lake Como embrace the house, flooding it with their waves and crossing it with their shifting reflections. Built in stone at the beginning of the 20th century above an old dock, the house was originally the home of a boatman. The main access was from the lake, where a small boat could be moored and stored inside the structure, passing through a vaulted opening that still characterizes the building, located at the edge of a steep and wild slope. The three-story building is flanked by a terraced area that also overlooks the lake. A small garden, dominated by a large magnolia tree, is situated on this terrace. A small wing, added in recent decades, extends from the garden.

A foreign client, drawn to the building’s authenticity and the evocative atmosphere of the lake, requested the restoration of the property. He specifically requested an intervention that would preserve the exterior envelope, the patina of the lime plaster, and the intimacy of the small garden.

Gregorio Pecorelli has interpreted these needs with a renovation project that, while respecting the original characteristics of the building and its extraordinary location, has given life to a contemporary intervention. Forms, materials, and finishes blend to create a suspended and calm atmosphere, a refuge from the chaotic modern life.

Access from the land is via a steep path descending from the hill. After crossing the small terrace above the garden, one enters the house. The interiors were completely demolished due to their poor quality, and numerous structural interventions were necessary to empty the building and create the large living room overlooking the water, as desired by the client.

It is here that the project truly comes to life: Gregorio Pecorelli has created a space that respects the original structure while expressing a taste and lifestyle that belong to this era. The walls and curtains share a continuous color palette that highlights the perimeter. The ceiling has been opened up to reveal the underside of the roof, clad in burnt wood to accentuate the upward depth.

The main entrance is through a glass door that illuminates the kitchen and connects it to the large living room. At the heart of the kitchen is a stone island, surrounded by a wooden space with essential and comfortable lines. The 10x10 cm stone floor recalls the typical formats of the area’s humblest homes. Linen curtains create an elegant contrast with the burnt wood ceiling that reflects the light. The large living room, with full-height walls, opens onto the lake, creating an intimate and relaxing atmosphere. Vintage furnishings and a large custom-made rug complete the ambiance.

A dark timber structure occupies a central position in the hall. It encompasses the kitchen, technical spaces, and, on an upper level, a small guest suite. Custom-made elements incorporate a spiral staircase within the furnishings, creating a refined geometric play. A second spiral staircase, adjacent to the first, descends to the lower level, where a large diagonal space carved into the rock reveals the structure of the old dock. Here, where water and its afternoon sun reflections penetrate the building, there is a study and a spa clad in stone and wood, with a Jacuzzi overlooking the lake directly.

The master bedroom, located in the secondary wing and connected to the entrance by a corridor, overlooks the garden. A custom-made wall unit integrates the bed and a small retractable desk. The bathroom, also clad in stone and wood, features a freestanding bathtub and a custom-made Dolomia stone sink.

The home is furnished with a mix of mid-century modern furniture, sourced from auctions, to complement the client’s art collection. Highlights include Model 814 Lounge Chairs by Ico and Luisa Parisi, Lina Bo Bardi’s scissor chairs in Jatobá wood, and unique pieces like the desk by George Nakashima.

The complex morphology of the site presented both logistical and design challenges. Collaborating with skilled artisans, the architect was able to engineer every detail with BIM precision, minimizing waste and ensuring rigorous control over the entire construction process. Text description by the architects.

Source: www.gregoriopecorelli.com
Press office: The Architecture Curator
Area: 350 m2

Omar Dahabra
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