MM 02 | UNICA Architects

Located along the seaside town of Milano Marittima, in the province of Ravenna in Italy, the project involves the demolition of an existing building and its reconstruction in respect of its massing and position in the plot.

The new three-story building is divided into five residential units - two at the ground floor and three duplex on the upper levels- each one equipped with a terrace taking advantage of the southward orientation of the façade.

Two independent entrances on the front garden give access to the two units on the ground floor. The core area of the house, the living-dining room, ideally extends into the terraces, equipped with relaxing areas and a Jacuzzi. Thanks to the cantilevered ceilings of the upper floor, these outdoor spaces provide the necessary shading during daylight hours while water and vegetation cool the environment by taking advantage of passive bioclimatic systems enhanced by the southern orientation of the building.

One of the main goals of the project was to maintain continuity between the iconic existing pine trees surrounding the plot and the new building in order to obtain maximum integration in the context. The creation of an extended canopy of wooden blades generates an in and out feeling while the wide glass openings are a reflection for the outside.

The terraces are conceived as an extension of the apartments, they benefit from the sea winds ensuring proper ventilation in summer. The vegetation integrated into the large planters filters the sunrays in summer and ensures their permeability in colder seasons. 

Materials and finishes are chosen to maximize the integration in the environment, bright sandy colors and light wooden finishes resemble to the palettes of nearby beaches.