In Bormio, amidst the alpine landscape of Valtellina, Villa Contessa is reborn through a renovation project by GiBstudio. Originally built in the late 1960s, the villa preserves its original spirit, reinterpreted with a contemporary architectural language that respects its history while prioritizing modern comfort.
The intervention faced two main challenges: on one side, enhancing the architectural identity of the existing house; on the other, improving its energy performance and functionality to meet the needs of a contemporary family. The resulting design is characterized by a philosophy of subtraction and integration, preserving traces of the past and elevating them through local materials, bespoke details, and a coherent vision.
A key element in reconfiguring the space is the original spiral staircase, which is maintained as the central hub of circulation and architectural memory. Surrounding it, a new internal organization has been developed, balancing openness and privacy through a more fluid and functional layout.
A pivotal aspect of the project was the requalification of the attic space: an unused area was transformed into a leisure and study zone, featuring large openings that offer privileged views of the mountains. Natural light penetrates freely, creating a sense of continuity between interior and exterior, between built form and landscape.
The villa’s identity is also renewed through careful material choices that reference traditional alpine codes. Brushed fir surfaces define bespoke furniture, while pine cembra flooring introduces authentic warmth and naturality. The use of local wood species reinforces the project’s territorial roots, with materiality becoming a narrative device.
Original decorative elements, meticulously preserved before the intervention, were reintegrated into the interiors, serving as emotional and formal symbols of continuity. This approach embodies GiBstudio’s philosophy of maintaining a dialogue between past and present, blending recovery and innovation, measure and comfort.
Today, Villa Contessa stands as a residence that meets contemporary living needs without sacrificing its soul. It exemplifies how transformation can occur without erasure, how innovation can honor tradition, and showcases a virtuous example of adaptive reuse architecture in a mountain context.
GiBstudio, with offices in Milan and Bormio, was founded in 2017 by Giovanni Bradanini. The studio’s practice spans from architectural to landscape scales, defined by rigorous analysis and sensitive design. Their approach emphasizes context, materiality, and local identity, delivering tailored solutions that address living needs and environmental challenges with a measured, contemporary style.
For more info: www.gibstudio.it
CREDITS
Project: Villa Contessa
Architect: GiBstudio
Location: Bormio (SO), Italy
