Grandeur meets recycling: Villa Roffa Lario on Lake Como experimentally and stylishly combines tradition with applied craftsmanship, sustainable technologies and contemporary architecture.
Elegant and sublime, the villa located in the heart of Menaggio blends into the sophisticated scenery of Lake Como. The fact that a contemporary zero-energy holiday home is hidden behind the historic façade only becomes apparent when you take a look behind the scenes. Built in the late 19th century as a family home and later used as a hotel, the villa was brought back to life after ten years of vacancy through a scientific project by Superuse Studios and transformed into an ecological holiday home. The international architecture collective is known for its circular thinking and sustainable design from recycled materials. Together with a group of Dutch and Italian designers, they developed ideas and methods, collected local waste materials from the nearby design industries of Milan and Como, and designed and built the interiors in “Furniture Jam Sessions”. In addition to sustainable insulation made from old textiles, 90 per cent of the furniture is made from recycled materials (e.g. composite panels, fire hoses, wooden blinds, ropes or metal posts), which give the rooms a distinct aesthetic.
Each of the spacious guest rooms has a different universal destination. The old entrance hall and the staircase lead to the Beijing, New York, São Paulo and Vienna rooms on the first floor, as well as to the two bathrooms, which are bathed in yellow and grey. On the second floor, in addition to the Tokyo, Melbourne and Paris rooms, there is a purple bathroom and a chill area with a pool table and a small kitchenette. Most of the common rooms are on the ground floor – from the large kitchen for collective cooking to the dining room with a long table all the way to the living room. In addition, the garden and the ping-pong table offer a variety of opportunities to relax or get some exercise. A house that closes the loop in every respect.
What to do
Menaggio is an ideal starting point to discover Lake Como: Hikes (e.g. to Val Sanagra or to Rifugio Menaggio on Monte Grona), walks into town, to Menaggio Castle, to the harbour or along the lake promenade, swimming and bathing, various water sports activities, a visit to the artists' quarter Loveno or Villa Mylius Vigoni, excursions to the villages of Nobiallo or Croce, boat trips, a variety of culinary highlights.
Why we like this house
An old Italian villa becomes experimental workshop and stage for circular design
This house is great for
Friends, couples, families and groups
Sustainability
Redesign and renovation with recycled materials, run with passive and zero-energy system, public transport by train possible
Details
Region | IT – Italy, Lombardy, Lake Como, Menaggio |
Name | Villa Roffa Lario |
Scenery | Near the lake with lake view |
Number of guests | Max. 12 |
Completed | late 19th century, 2023 (renovation) |
Design | Superuse Studios, Rotterdam; Interior Design: Césare Peeren, Rotterdam |
Specials | Architect and co-founder of Superuse, Jan Jongert, has curated the Netherlands' pavilion for the 2023 Venice Biennale. |
Awards | ARC21 Oeuvre Award (Netherlands) |
Architecture | Old & new |
Accomodation | Holiday home |
Criteria | 8+ (house/apartment), Family, Lake/river, Meeting, Workation, No car needed |
Availability calendar
The calendar shows the current availability of the accommodation. On days with white background the accommodation is still available. On days with dark gray background the accommodation is not available.
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