Location: Menaggio, Italy

Year: 2008-2009

A young couple from Moscow, he a dominant player in the media world of Russia and she the daughter of an ambassador, was searching for the old style charm of an Italian home. We renovated this 60’s home to include every urban amenity and added a newly-built dependance for guests and staff. Menaggio offers proximity to an airport as well as lots of open space. We opened up the plan of the existing residence, simplified the spaces, and oriented them as much as possible outward, to lake Como. The ground floor, which changed level with every room originally, is now a warm flow of private and public spaces with no level changes graced by the view and spectacular light which illuminates the new blond interiors.
Striking examples of prototypical Italian furniture design form an exciting and ironic contrast to the peaceful interiors. The paintings by a local and internationally well-known artist, Roger Selden, are bright and colorful counterpoints to the interiors. They are sunny and rhythmic, like much of the objects within.
A Dependance for guests and staff, nestled near the house, encloses the property with a sense of nature and calm. Sliding louver windows and doors ‘screen’ the stone and stucco facades throughout. A stone base links it to the embrace of the mountain that defines the property’s northern boundary.
The swimming pool has been doubled and extended out over the hillside, with an infinity edge and a glass balustrade.
1200+/- sq meters. completed in 2009