Simple, efficient, rooted in the landscape: this single-story house, designed by Marco Baldassa in 2017 in Teolo, in the province of Padua, embodies a minimalist approach to a sustainable and harmonious residence. Located in a redevelopment area of a former kiln, amidst the hills and countryside of Veneto, the house presents as a pure volume—a rectangular prism with an asymmetrical gable roof that recalls the archetypal forms of rural dwelling.
The project was born from three client needs: simplicity, energy efficiency, and natural materials. Baldassa responds to these with a measured architectural gesture, consistent with his exploration of the fundamental themes of Matter, Form, Light, and Space. The building envelope is structured around an X-lam (cross-laminated timber) construction system, and the terracotta cladding defines a tactile and chromatic skin that changes with light and time.
Inside, all spaces are arranged on a single level, revolving around a spacious living area with exposed wooden beams and ceilings reaching up to 5.20 meters high. A large 9-meter glass wall opens toward the garden, capturing natural light and framing the landscape. The stone kitchen, dining area, and living room flow seamlessly into one another, culminating in a relaxation zone with an iron fireplace and views on multiple sides. The south porch, tapered in shape, functions as a visual telescope onto nature.
The north loggia houses the three bedrooms and the entrance, providing shelter and a more intimate spatial language. The dialogue between the two sides—open to the south and protected to the north—creates a balance between exposure, climatic comfort, and domestic privacy. The bedrooms are separated from the living area only by a custom-designed fitted furniture, emphasizing the idea of spatial fluidity and functional flexibility.
Great attention is paid to the quality of natural light, which filters through the openings, casting shadows on the materials and creating a dynamic interplay. Wood, stone, terracotta—each surface is chosen to craft a coherent material narrative, in harmony with the surrounding environment and the studio’s design philosophy.
Marco Baldassa, an architect and professor, founded his studio in 2012 after graduating with honors from IUAV in Venice. His work focuses on exploring the relationships between matter, form, light, and space, with particular emphasis on the use of natural materials and sustainable construction techniques. In 2018, he began teaching at the ICEA Department of the University of Padua, contributing to the dissemination of architecture attentive to humans and the context.
For more info: www.marcobaldassa.com
CREDITS
Project: Single-Story House
Architect: Marco Baldassa Architect
Location: Teolo (PD), Italy
Year: 2017
Photograph: Marco Baldassa Architect
