She house: a villa with views over Turin

By Editorial Staff - 20 October 2021

A long staircase with a simple, essential look made of local stone, a narrow view that suddenly widens to reveal a Japanese garden – both express the spirit of She House, a residence with contemporary looks and nothing that’s superfluous. A home with essential, clean elements taken from nature and left in their natural state. Designed by architect Duilio Damilano (Damilanostudio Architects), this new dwelling deconstructs and reconstructs itself, making it unique and stand out from the local architecture.

The 9300 square foot (860 m²) rectangular lot faces onto the hills around Turin. It’s located in a residential area with a 270-degree view over the plains below. Occupying no less than 6500 square feet (600 m²), including the terraces, the home is on three levels. The surrounding architecture is all very similar and traditional. The client, however, was looking for a home with a contemporary feel.

The villa is built on a reinforced concrete volume, with two aboveground floors and a basement. The entrance is in the living area on the south side, while stairs and an elevator are in the bedroom area.

Glazed walls with everchanging views of nature

The moment you set foot in She House, you’re struck by the double-height living room. Just as impressive are the glazed walls, which maintain a constant dialogue with the outdoors, with the scene changing according to the season.

In the living room, you’re welcomed by an inviting Standard sofa made by Edra and a woodburning fireplace. The other furnishings here include a bench seat designed by Lissoni for Porro, a Cattelan coffee table, a Besana rug, and Flos and Vibia luminaires. A glazed wall reveals the stairs between the upper floor and basement, where there are utility rooms, a hobby room, and the garage.

Passing through the Velaria sliding door, made by Rimadesio, you enter the dining/kitchen area (Arc line furniture with CEA tapware). From here, sliding glass doors (Sky frame) offer up views over the whole garden. The kitchen/dining area has a Rimadesio table, Bonaldo chairs, and Flos and Foscarini lights.

Taking the stairs, metal and made by Cirifer, you come to the first floor, where there are spaces dedicated to relaxation and personal care. There’s a wellness area with sauna and bathrooms here. This section of the house leads directly to the terrace, where there is a mini-pool with hydromassage.

With sliding glass doors (Sky frame), the master bedroom creates a continuum with the Burma teak decking on the terrace. The Flou bed, the Rimadesio walk-in closet, and the bathrooms with a Kartell toilet, a Casabath washbasin, Fantini tapware, large-format DSG ceramic tiles, and the resin floor in the shower, toilet, and bidet areas are all a tribute to essential shapes.

Glass blocks combined with wood finishes

Other distinguishing features of this home are its local stone cladding, the lightness and fluidity of its design, the elevated levels of technology, and the combination of glass blocks with wood finishes.

In the bedroom there’s a Kos Zucchetti bathtub with a Fantini tap. The curtains in the home are Renson-Griesser for exteriors and My Core for interiors. Italian walnut flooring has been used throughout, but applied differently on the ground and upper floors. The basement family area has a Meson’s kitchen, a Roche Bobois sofa, and Kartell chairs.

This is a home defined by elements that push and divide, transparencies, and hollowed-out blocks that open onto the garden, all of which make it one of a kind.