In the heart of the Gassino Torinese hills, just a few kilometers from Turin, the Turin-based studio F:L Architetti signs the rebirth of a 1930s rural building, transforming it into a private residence with a didactic farm. The Amilu Farm project exemplarily combines architectural innovation with territorial rootedness, translating the archetype of the Piedmontese farmhouse into a contemporary and efficient form capable of dialoguing with the landscape and the memory of the place.
The intervention stems from a demolition and reconstruction operation on the existing site, with the aim of integrating the daily needs of a family with the public activities of an educational agricultural enterprise. The volumetric composition of the building is articulated into distinct yet integrated blocks, distributed according to the natural slope of the land. The public front, welcoming visitors and echoing the site’s historic agricultural function, is clad in exposed brick and defined by a regular, reassuring rhythm. Conversely, the private front, more inward-looking, uses white concrete to shape intimate and bright spaces overlooking a terrace that opens towards the landscape and hosts a biopool.
The materials chosen—wood, stone, brick, concrete—not only respond to criteria of naturality and environmental compatibility but also create continuity between interior and exterior, enhancing the sensory perception of living. The internal layout follows a precise functional hierarchy: two above-ground floors and an underground level distinguish public areas from more intimate, residential ones. The simple composition conceals a complex technological system that makes Amilu Farm a model of contemporary sustainability.
The building is a NZEB (Nearly Zero Energy Building): powered by a 50 kW photovoltaic system, it utilizes a heat pump system complemented by a wood stove, controlled mechanical ventilation, and phytoremediation systems for treating wastewater and rainwater. Every technical choice is designed to reduce environmental impact and ensure energy self-sufficiency.
The project stands out for its narrative capacity: each volume, material, and opening is calibrated to tell the story of the relationship between architecture and its context. Amilu Farm is not just a building but a device of relationship with the landscape, conceived to endure over time and to host evolving stories and functions.
F:L Architetti is a Turin-based studio founded in 2002 by Luca Maria Gandini and Fabrizio Caudana, with Alberto Minero joining in 2012. The studio is known for an interdisciplinary approach that intertwines architecture, visual arts, and sustainability, with particular attention to the conscious use of materials and spatial narration. Their works are characterized by a refined synthesis of technique and poetry, where every detail contributes to building immersive and conscious living experiences.
For more info: www.flarchitetti.com
CREDITS
Project: Amilu Farm
Architect: F:L Architetti
Location: Gassino Torinese Hills (TO), Italy
Year: 2021
Photography: Beppe Giardino
