House LC by studioforma

 Architects: studioforma 

Suburban Introspection: A Courtyard House Rooted in Italian Construction Tradition

Located in the outskirts of Bergamo, House LC by studioforma is a refined architectural response to a suburban landscape lacking urban density and spatial complexity. Situated on a narrow and elongated plot, parallel to a cul-de-sac, the house is shaped by the client’s desire for wide views and strong indoor-outdoor connections. In response, the architects conceived an introverted home that unfolds around two symmetrically positioned courtyards — a modern reinterpretation of traditional domestic enclosures.

A Typology of Reflection and Symmetry

Rather than opening itself to the fragmented suburban fabric, House LC turns inward, forming a spatial dialogue between its internal courtyards. These green voids are not mere gardens but act as organizing elements for circulation, daylight, and visual continuity. They create a diagonal symmetry, subtly shifting perspectives while reinforcing privacy and composure.

Material Honesty and Italian Craftsmanship

At the heart of the design is a reinforced concrete structural frame, clad entirely in honeycomb brick — a practice rooted in Italy’s post-war architectural tradition. This layered construction method allows the home to maintain a solid, monolithic appearance, while benefiting from the adaptability of a concrete skeleton.

Notably, studioforma eschewed external insulation systems in favor of internal insulation, preserving the tactile expression of the brick and its seamless interaction with a hand-applied 3.5 cm hydraulic lime plaster. The result is a surface that shimmers in changing light and maintains a sense of tactile authenticity — massive, textured, and timeless.

Ground-Floor Living with Elevated Intention

The program is efficiently distributed: the entire living space — kitchen, dining, and bedrooms — is arranged on the ground level to enable easy access to the courtyards. Above, a more recessed and modest upper volume houses a tranquil workspace, ensuring separation without disruption. This subtle vertical hierarchy reinforces the architectural intention of minimal visibility and quiet elegance.

Abstraction and Contextual Tension

With few windows punctuating its solid exterior walls, the house maintains an abstract sculptural quality, intentionally scaled to appear ambiguous. The minimal façades, composed of light-sensitive plaster planes, contrast sharply with the neighboring suburban vernacular. Every element — from raw details to sparse openings — seeks to resist the clichés of domesticity and instead assert a thoughtful architectural critique of the suburban condition.

Landscape as Extension

The limited external areas not occupied by the structure are transformed into densely vegetated gardens, reinforcing the sense of retreat and introspection. Vicenza limestone is used for all horizontal thresholds in contact with plaster surfaces, adding a tactile softness and natural variation that evokes the image of an “erratic rock” embedded in suburban sprawl.