Casa Latomuro, living on the boundary line
Casa Latomuro, Suzzara (MN)
Casa Latomuro is one of the most emblematic single-family Superbonus projects that exemplifies DVA’s approach to the state incentive: using the opportunity of energy upgrading to carry out functional and aesthetic regeneration of the built environment. Preserving the vestigial elements of the original building, in keeping with a “where it was/as it was” methodology, Casa Latomuro fits into the broader narrative of post-earthquake reconstruction and architectural reuse, which served as its main inspiration.
The intervention concerns a small, abandoned 1950s building, just over 11 meters long, with access from the road leading to the historic center of Suzzara. The structure stands directly on the boundary wall of the property. It is precisely this wall—so central to the building’s identity—that becomes the founding element of the entire project: a demarcation line marking the transition between two worlds, the historic town center and the evolving contemporary fabric of the town. Transformed from a former warehouse, the building is reconstructed from its own rubble to become a landmark—a milestone that marks the threshold between two temporal and spatial dimensions.
A new primary volume in exposed concrete replaces the decaying structure, deliberately contrasting in style and materiality with the Liberty-style villa located at the center of the same lot.
This new form is intentionally brutal in its execution: imperfections and casting marks are left visible, and a dark brown pigment—evocative of local earth and traditional construction materials—is blended into the concrete. The volume is distinguished by its deep, splayed window and door openings, which give rhythm to the façade and highlight the passage of time over the intrinsic material value of the building. The interplay between the raw texture of the concrete and the precision of the glass and steel used for the entrance and window finishes reinforces this contrast.
The project is a kind of reverse archaeology: a multifunctional space that can be adapted according to future needs.
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Less - To ensure structural accuracy—particularly in relation to the splayed openings—DVS, the structural engineering company within the DVArea group, was brought in to support DVA. Two more buildings on the same lot will also be redeveloped: the Liberty-style villa, damaged during the 2012 earthquake that struck the area, and an old dependance, which has also stood empty for years.
Group companies
DVA, DVS
Category
Residential
Assignment
Design
Client
Private Client
Year
2021 - ongoing
70
GFA
[m²]
11
BUILDING LENGTH
[lm]
“This small house, characterized by minimal spaces, embodies the image of a contemporary ruin — an object inscribed within the built ecosystem, bearing the appearance of an “unfinished” structure. It is a potential and evolving place, capable of positioning itself between the rural world and the urbanized landscape. The project stands as a “milestone,” marking the boundary between the historic center and the recently developed urban area of Suzzara.”
