In the picturesque viticultural landscape of Oltradige, in the southern part of South Tyrol, MoDusArchitects creates residential architecture distinguished by its expressive strength and compositional precision. Visibilio House extends along the northern edge of a narrow, elongated plot on the outskirts of a small town, in a setting that alternates between nature, rural traces, and new urban densities. Here, the building appears as a sculpted presence—compact, sedimented over time—that combines a sculptural gesture with refined craftsmanship.
The shape of the residence is characterized by a carved, concave movement facing south: a gesture that draws the landscape into the body of the house, establishing an intense and continuous interaction between interior and exterior space. This curvature of the volume, sharp yet enveloping, shapes the experience of domestic space and opens unexpected views onto the garden and the surrounding hills. The house consists of three levels: one underground and two above ground. In addition to defining the functional distribution of the spaces, each floor is designed with specific tactile and material qualities that narrate a progressive transition from earth to sky.
The basement is anchored to the ground: it houses service spaces and more intimate rooms, built with materials in deep, warm tones. On the ground floor, the atmospheres become more meditative: the material palette lightens, surfaces open toward the outside, and the living area becomes a crossroads of perceptions and transitions. The upper level, dedicated to the sleeping area, features airy, luminous rooms with light finishes and an overall sense of lightness.
The external cladding in handmade bricks, with thickened joints and shades ranging from dark brown to light sand, gives the entire building a strong tactile component. The facade design is only interrupted by calibrated openings and a steel beam-channel that runs through the brick skin, almost emphasizing its horizontal tension. The elongated bricks, also used internally, create visual and material continuity between surfaces, while the contribution of local artisans and craftsmen enriches the project with built knowledge “by the book.”
MoDusArchitects, based in Bressanone, was founded in 2000 by Sandy Attia and Matteo Scagnol. It has established itself as one of Italy’s most interesting studios, known for its ability to combine rigorous design, high construction quality, and expressive force. Their work ranges from infrastructural projects and school buildings to private residences and public architecture, engaging in a continuous dialogue between theory and practice, architectural language, and the territorial context.
For more info: www.modusarchitects.com
CREDITS
Project: Visibilio House
Architect: MoDusArchitects
Location: Oltradige (BZ), Italy
Year: 2022
Photograph: Jürgen Eheim
