Archive Architecture Atelier Rampazzi’s new five-storey apartment building linking to Villa Belforte in the Swiss town of Minusio is a shining example of how new architecture can sit happily alongside historic buildings Rendered in dry sandblasted reinforced concrete that matches the colouring of the old building next door two of its five storeys sit partially below ground meaning that the new building sits level with the old without crowding or overshadowing it A new stairwell bisects the two structures and creeping plants will eventually cover its metal mesh walls and change colour with the seasons Although the new addition is almost brutalist in the rawness of the material and minimalism of its design there is nevertheless a distinct material harmony and spatial rhythm that unites it to the historic villa next to it ‘This design approach made it possible to find an agreement between the owners and the cultural heritage offices in order to avoid the demolition of the old house,’ says architect Luca Rampazzi Each floor has a 3.5 room apartment with two bathrooms and a balcony Simple oak window frames and solid shutters exposed concrete and timber flooring make for calming and minimalist interiors a roof-top solarium provides a welcome social space for residents with spectacular views of the Alps and Lake Maggiore The most challenging part of the project was to keep the number of materials used to just a few and work with them in different ways creating various concrete textures,’ adds Rampazzi Get a curated collection of design and architecture news in your inbox by signing up to our ICON Weekly newsletter In a 2013 interview with the AEFoundation Snozzi said: "I would say the biggest problem today for architects is the city and for that reason it is important in architectural education to start with the problem of the city." "Whereas usually in education one starts with a small project a little house or something like that I think that instead I would rather start with giving them a piece of the city to design You first have to learn about the city and then you can do a house because that is in a sense out of context with the city and it’s the most difficult project because every single room has different requirements; living room Are you sure you want to block this user and hide all related comments throughout the site Your comment will be visible once approved Each dwelling is spread over 3.5 rooms with two introverted balconies the new volume looks like a three story building to align with Villa Belforte next-door The first two floors are partially underground and remain below the level of the road The two buildings are separated by a new stairwell enclosed with metal nets which will become home to climbing plants in the years to come bringing a welcome touch of greenery to the reinforced concrete structure images © Simone Bossi At volumetric level, Atelier Rampazzi worked with primitive volumes and neutral materials in order to almost brutally decrease the contrast with the paradigms of the old building. The architects therefore worked on volumetric subtraction to create harmony and rhythm they specified dry sandblasted reinforced concrete for the exterior with oak wood window frames and shutters The project also features a landscaped outdoor area and a shared solarium on the roof for all the residents to enjoy the new intervention is characterized by primitive volumes and neutral materials the two lower levels are hidden from street view oak wood shutters complement the reinforced concrete shell the building is topped with a shared rooftop solarium architecture: Atelier Rampazzi photography: © Simone Bossi | @simonebossiphotographer AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style