Lamia Santolina / YAS architecture

Lamia Santolina / YAS architecture - Exterior Photography, FacadeLamia Santolina / YAS architecture - Interior PhotographyLamia Santolina / YAS architecture - Exterior Photography, DoorLamia Santolina / YAS architecture - Exterior PhotographyLamia Santolina / YAS architecture - More Images+ 31

  • Design Team: Angelo Melcarne (concept and preliminar design), YAS Architecture + Rosanna Morleo (design development, materials and construction). YAS architecture team: Antonio De Castro, Andrea Calderari, Elena Calderari, Paolo Casolaro.
  • Clients: Cosimo Terlizzi, Damien Modolo
  • Light Design: Francesco Rubino
  • City: Carovigno
  • Country: Italy
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Lamia Santolina / YAS architecture - Exterior Photography
© Studio Voda + Pierluigi Schena

Text description provided by the architects. The creative workspace, Lamia Santolina, is a living building made of hemp and lime. Situated in the countryside around Carovigno (BR), Apulia, southern Italy and commissioned by the artist Cosimo Terlizzi and his partner Damien Modolo takes on the lamia typology, traditionally found in the Valle d'Itria and Alto Salento with a contemporary twist. It reflects the owners' love of the Apulian countryside and their desire to leave a respectful print on the land by creating a modern art studio in harmony with local nature and culture.

Lamia Santolina / YAS architecture - Exterior Photography
© Studio Voda + Pierluigi Schena
Lamia Santolina / YAS architecture - Image 31 of 36
Plan
Lamia Santolina / YAS architecture - Exterior Photography, Door
© Studio Voda + Pierluigi Schena

Aesthetically speaking, the structure is traditional, but from a construction point of view, it is pioneering in using natural and recyclable materials to address contemporary environmental concerns.

Lamia Santolina / YAS architecture - Interior Photography, Beam
© Studio Voda + Pierluigi Schena
Lamia Santolina / YAS architecture - Interior Photography, Door, Windows, Glass
© Studio Voda + Pierluigi Schena
Lamia Santolina / YAS architecture - Exterior Photography
© Studio Voda + Pierluigi Schena

The building has a simple shape, just like a traditional lamia; the rectangular base shrinks as it rises to form perimeter walls with trapezoidal sections and rounded corners, just like the handmade constructions created by farmers in the past. There are two small square window openings on the West side. To the East, the building opens up completely, with a large sliding door and window section intended to collect as much natural light as possible and take advantage of the views of the surrounding olive grove. Thanks to an overhanging roof section, the sizeable Eastern opening is positioned so that the sun's rays don't enter directly inside the studio, taking advantage of natural light while avoiding overheating in the hot Apulian summers. One intention was to maintain a constant temperature inside the building to store art, supplies and agricultural produce.           

Lamia Santolina / YAS architecture - Exterior Photography, Beam
© Studio Voda + Pierluigi Schena

The construction technology and materials utilized in the project are also traditional yet modern; the perimeter walls and roof slab are both made by Messapia Style, an ethical construction company and pioneer of hemp and lime construction in Italy. The material consists of a mix of hemp hurds, water, pure hydrated lime and a natural excipient to help the drying process. It is gaining popularity throughout Europe because the non-toxic hemp and lime mixture, characterized by high thermal sealing capacity (thermal conductivity: 0.056 W/ mK), naturally controls internal moisture, provides maximum breathability and even absorbs CO2 from the environment. The material met our specification to create a 'living' structure that performs excellently in all aspects of functionality.

Lamia Santolina / YAS architecture - Interior Photography, Beam
© YAS architecture
Lamia Santolina / YAS architecture - Image 36 of 36
Detail
Lamia Santolina / YAS architecture - Beam, Facade
© YAS architecture

The light modular iron structure, produced by Scaff System, was adapted to accommodate the ancient "incannucciato" cane roof technique. First, local artisans assembled the locally grown canes to create cane mats that rest upon the steel structure's joists. Then a 25cm thick hemp and lime mixture layer is then laid on top, providing maximum thermal insulation for the roof.

Lamia Santolina / YAS architecture - Exterior Photography
© Messapia Style

A photovoltaic system will be placed on the roof, generating around 4.5kWp of electricity also serves the nearby house on the same plot. The roof also forms part of the rainwater recovery system, directing rainwater to an underground tank to be stored for irrigation. The soil removed during the excavation phase was reused to provide a new layer of soil to the existing olive trees. The underground rock was reused to reinforce the perimeter dry stone walls that release humidity accumulated during the night back into the ground encourage cyclicity and minimize impact.

Lamia Santolina / YAS architecture - Exterior Photography
© Cosimo Terlizzi

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Project location

Address:72012 Carovigno, Brindisi, Italy

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Lamia Santolina / YAS architecture" 31 Oct 2021. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/970809/lamia-santolina-yas-architecture> ISSN 0719-8884

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