Private Terracielo, Castello (Venice)

In the Castello district, in a quiet area of Venice’s historic centre, we carried out the conservation-focused restoration of a detached private residence with a garden. The project, designed by HZ ecoarchitetti in collaboration with architect Stefanie Kirchner, involved the regeneration of a building originally comprising three pre-19th-century units with separate entrances, now merged into a single residence spread over three levels. The works covered a floor area of approximately 173 square metres, as well as a private garden of approximately 37 square metres, and were based on respecting the existing structure and enhancing its historical features. The original stone and brick walls were exposed, revealing old bricked-up fireplaces, layers of construction and Istrian stone details around the windows and doors. One of the central features of the house is the wooden staircase, repositioned on the footprint of the original one. The structure connects the three levels and, thanks to the decision to lighten the upper section, allows light to filter through and conveys the building’s height and verticality from the moment one enters. On the ground floor, a high-tide containment tank has been installed, integrated with technical solutions designed to minimise its internal footprint. The walls have been carefully restored, combining traditional techniques, green building practices and high-performance systems. The project involved the refurbishment of the sub-floors, the reinforcement of the existing timber structures, internal insulation, roof insulation and the use of eco-fibre panels to improve acoustic comfort and indoor air quality. The building services were completely refurbished with underfloor heating, air conditioning and Controlled Mechanical Ventilation, integrating contemporary technologies into a historic building. The finishes lend the house a textured and refined character: warm-toned magnesite floors, rough-textured plasterwork that shimmers in natural light, colourful handcrafted ceramics in the bathrooms, natural wood details and bespoke furnishings. The kitchen, designed as a space for family interaction, is dominated by a large central island with a white Lasa stone worktop. The result is a contemporary Venetian home, where traces of the past are not erased but become an integral part of the design. An intimate, light-filled and multi-layered home, capable of uniting historical heritage, technological comfort, sustainable building practices and interior design.