In the greenery of Canton Ticino and overlooking the calm waters of Lake Muzzano, ”Dans le noir” is the evocative name of the renovation project of a three-level villa, designed by ITCH architecture studio. The intervention was conceived to welcome a young family with three children, placing the relationship with the landscape, the value of outdoor time, and the flexibility of domestic spaces at the heart of living.
The core of the project is the transformation of the terrace, reimagined not merely as a threshold but as a “domestic outdoor space” to be enjoyed for most of the year. The expansion and redesign define an intimate dining area, seamlessly connected to the interiors, and a larger, more flexible space that can host a lounge area or a summer pool for the children. To shield this intermediate environment, a lightweight, brick-red metal pergola is placed—divided into sections and equipped with adjustable movable curtains, capable of responding to changing light and seasons.
Inside, the villa is organized into a series of spaces tailored to the family’s daily needs. Custom furnishings, crafted with natural materials, dialogue with a color palette inspired by the Ticino landscape: deep greens, earthy ochres, and stone grays. The living room, open and bright, features a full-wall bookshelf that becomes a central, containing element for family life. Upstairs, the bedrooms are designed to meet the needs of both children and adults, while the bathrooms stand out with playful or institutional tones, balancing function and storytelling.
In the basement, there is a playroom, a study, and an guest bedroom, making the house versatile and welcoming for any time of day. The project demonstrates how a careful renovation can restore meaning to a living space, transforming it into a continuous narrative between memory and innovation, comfort and connection with the outdoors.
Symbolically overseeing the living room is Ben Vautier’s artwork ”Dans le noir”, from which the house takes its name. This is more than an artistic quote; it is a conscious design gesture that affirms the value of the bond with the natural context, silence, light, and reflection. Just as in Vautier’s work, here architecture becomes a space for observation and questioning—not merely a container of functions but a tool for inhabiting the landscape.
ITCH is an architecture studio based in Milan and Lugano, founded by Giulia Castelli, Marco Corazza, and Alessandro Mingolo. Active in urban and architectural design, the studio is distinguished by its focus on reuse, restoration, and construction quality. Every project begins as an open dialogue between client, context, and function, integrating environmental, structural, and economic aspects within a critical and contemporary architectural vision.
For more info: www.itch-studio.com
CREDITS
Project: *Dans le noir*
Architect: ITCH architecture studio
Location: Breganzona, Lugano, Switzerland
Year: 2022
Photography: Stefano Anzini
