On February 7th, the design team SDV + Archisbang won the second place in the second phase of the international design competition "Living Villa Mater," announced last July 7th by Fondazione Ufficio Pio in collaboration with Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo. The project aims at the recovery and repurposing of the complex "Villa Mater - Riccardo De Angeli" in Rivoli for the creation of a "collaborative residence for longevity."
The structure is located in the western part of the city of Rivoli, bordering the gates of Turin, in a favorable location overlooking the mountains and chestnut forests. The park, bordered by Corso Alcide de Gasperi, Via Rosta, and Vicolo d’Ala, extends over a large area and encompasses the nineteenth-century Villa and two pavilions attached to it. Owned by the Fondazione Ufficio Pio since 1977, Villa Mater housed a nursing home that remained active until 2012.
Today the complex, unused for 13 years, is the focus of an extremely innovative and ambitious redevelopment project proposed by Fondazione Ufficio Pio. The collaborative residence for longevity is no longer just a nursing home but a new home for over-60s who choose to share the aging process in a stimulating and communal environment, integrated into a park open to the public, experienced, and participated in by the residents. The original intended use is thus revolutionized and integrated into a broader social involvement plan beyond the specific target identified for the repurposing of the spaces.
The presented project makes the most of the themes of mitigating vulnerability and loneliness associated with aging to propose a new cultural and social hub aimed at encouraging interaction both among the residents and between them and the external population, developing in the direction of Senior Social Housing.
Living the open space
The park is the lung of the project, a protected space for outdoor gatherings and contact with nature. It is enclosed by a continuous fence that opens up to the city at three main entrances and one secondary entrance, which are closed during nighttime hours. Three squares are located at the main entrances: one serves as the main access to the Villa on Via Rosta, another on Corso Alcide de Gasperi with a staircase and ramp to overcome the elevation difference, and finally, the "Piazza della convivialità" on Vicolo d’Ala, serving as an access point to the events area. The park spaces represent the grounds for interaction with the city, where generations can meet in an open and public space.
The central hub of the park is the historical fountain, preserved and enhanced, around which spaces for socializing, sports, and relaxation alternate. A new paved surface connects the park areas hosting various activities, following the contours of the existing forest and blending into the greenery, allowing a gradual connection with nature. The passage area along the park's southern side, dedicated to street food events, contrasts with the northern park area designated for an orchard and urban gardens - a more intimate and private dimension physically distant from the crowded main flows. Between these two poles, in the middle, various activities are organized, including spaces for open-air cinema and theater, a bocce court, fitness area, reading area and relaxation areas, creating a dynamic and nice atmosphere.
Living the Villa
The complex is reclaimed by recalling the original horseshoe-shaped layout, which connected the two pavilions to the north with the Villa. A new building is constructed in the shape of the existing pavilion to the west and connects to the main villa building, extending the roof. Here, a large covered outdoor space is created, integrating with the activities of the park. The other pavilion, facing the street, is maintained as an independent structure. The complex is thus composed of three independent yet interconnected bodies: the Villa, the new building, and the rustic structure.
On Via Rosta, the main entrance to the facility is marked by a new entrance portal that frames the historic front of the Villa - a clean and solid triangle that links to the 19th-century facade, acting as a filter. Once through the portal, visitors are welcomed by a courtyard, visible from the street, that houses outdoor tables for the ground-floor café. The main entrance to the collaborative residence is from this courtyard, while a second and more private courtyard, primarily for residence use, is located to the north.
The complex houses a total of 19 residential units, featuring one and two-bedroom apartments, as required by the competition notice. The new building, organized on two floors, exclusively hosts apartments, serving a more private function. Meanwhile, the rustic structure, developed only on the ground floor, maintains a more communal function, hosting a gathering hall. The main building encompasses all other functions across three floors. Here apartments alternate with shared spaces create continuous flows of interaction: the ground floor, in addition to the previously mentioned café and apartments, houses the concierge, a communal kitchen with a dining area, a spread-out library, and a relaxation area. The second floor reintroduces the library and relaxation area, from which one can access other apartments. On the third floor, the laundry becomes a social space designed for gatherings, while the ironing area doubles as a library, meeting space, and reading area. A study is also carved out in a space with a south-facing dormer, while to the north, a fully glazed winter garden is created, opening onto the terrace.
The terrace
The terrace on the third floor of the Villa serves as an outdoor interaction space reserved for the residents, acting as a point of connection with the surrounding greenery and mountains. This space is designed to be a domestic meeting place, featuring tables and seating but especially notable for clotheslines. It represents a significant area for the residents, serving as a sheltered gathering space for intimate socializing, providing an opportunity for self-reflection and connection with others.
The apartments
All residential units are designed to include one or two bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a living/relaxation space. The spatial organization of all units is arranged to consistently place the service block of the bathroom and kitchen side by side, facilitating and optimizing utility connections. The bathrooms are designed to be accessible to individuals with disabilities, and the sink is always separated from the rest to allow two users to use the bathroom simultaneously. The walls are potentially customizable. The intended environment is warm, welcoming, and comfortable - a space that caters to all possible needs of the residents and promotes internal comfort. There has been a continuous effort to ensure a view of greenery and good brightness, essential elements for psychological well-being and a joyful sharing of time with oneself and others.
Materials and energy efficiency
Environmental sustainability, respect for the existing structure, and the healthiness of interior spaces are the foundations of the technological choices made. Materials with low environmental impact and high thermal insulation performance have been chosen. In the existing building, the concept of "box in the box" proved essential. This involves inserting an internal package, in this case, made of hemp insulation panels coated with enameled MDF, to preserve the characteristics of the 19th-century facades of the Villa. The new building is designed to be constructed with packages consisting of a spruce structure and double insulation with glass wool and hemp, with an external covering of reinforced fiber-cement panels and internally enameled MDF. In the restored rustic building, in addition to internal insulation, the wooden roof has been insulated with wood fiber panels. The flooring consists of oak slats laid in a herringbone pattern in the Villa, reminiscent of the old flooring, and longitudinally in the two pavilions.
The roof of the new building accommodates photovoltaic panels, and geothermal heat pump systems, as well as rainwater harvesting systems, have been incorporated. The latter is used for the maintenance and care of the green areas.
CREDITS
Team: Sossio De Vita (team leader), Giuseppe Chiariello, Silvia Minutolo, Marco Giai Via, Alberto Carbonelli, Matteo Nativo, Alessia Carrettini
Consultants: Tina Damiani (greenery and landscaping), Matteo Rosa Sentinella (environmental sustainability)
