CASA CAN CAIN
Casa Can Cain surges from the restoration of a stone ruin built approximately
two centuries ago. The decisions behind its shape and materiality are rooted in
an interpretation of the local building culture, aligned with the need to create
spaces suited to a new lifestyle through the use of contemporary construction
techniques. The goal was to create a new space that emotionally connects with
the characteristics of the surrounding territory, without rejecting or directly re-
plicating traditional architecture, but rather presenting itself as an evolution of
it.
Casa Can Cain is located in Valpolicella, in a hilly area that connects the Pre-
alps and the Po Valley, in the province of Verona. The original ruin, being enclo-
sed on one side by an adjacent building and on the back by an embankment,
was very dark, and certain rooms, lacking ventilation, were also unhealthy. In
the past, these types of dwellings were designed to provide shelter and respite
from the hard work in the open fields. However, in the post-pandemic era, this
concept has been reversed; work is predominantly carried out in offices, and
naturally, people seek a close connection with the outdoors and nature in their
homes.
Despite the surrounding constraints, the design challenge was to bring natu-
ral elements like air and light into every space of the house through the intro-
duction of an empty tower that connects the ground floor to the sky, allowing
light to enter and air to circulate naturally throughout the spaces, thanks to a
large skylight. Contrary to the common ‘more is better’ logic, the project opts to
eliminate two floors to create an empty space, which becomes the key element
of the entire design solution. At the base of this void is the kitchen, occupying
a quarter of the almost square floor plan, and it is counterbalanced by a servi-
ce tower, which houses two bathrooms and the stairs. From this solid ash wood
vertical core, two balconies extend, providing access to the three bedrooms.
Casa Can Cain is made by prefabricated blocks that not only incorporate insu-
lation but also function as formwork for the load-bearing structure. The floors
are built with wooden beams, and the roof is composed of large prefabricated.
