Vacation home on Island Elaba
Client: private
Completion 2022
Photos: Fabio Mantovani
To protect the natural landscape and the environment, construction on the island of Elba is only permitted in locations with existing structures. Located in a small beach town, the plot was previously home to a small structure that was used for the cultivation of vineyards. Now we have built a vacation home there for up to six guests. Located on an expansive bay, this small-scale ensemble of individual buildings is perched village-like on the side of a mountain that slopes down toward the sea. The building sizes, roof shape, materials, and colors were all chosen in line with the architecture typical of the region.
In addition to the three-part main house, a wooden cube by the pool creates additional living space. However, the design is oriented less on the familiar room sizes and arrangements of traditional residential buildings, and instead on the design methods used for dwellings with very limited space, such as on board ships. With a length of just 4 meters, a width of 3 meters, and a height of 2.4 meters, we have created an extremely compact room for two with a workspace, built-in cabinets, and a small bathroom behind a swivel-mounted room divider.