LIH Residence by Atelier Rampazzi: A Corten Steel House Renovation Integrating Nature and Architecture in Ascona

A Contextual Transformation in Ascona’s Lakeside Suburb

In the lush residential district of Ascona, Switzerland, Atelier Rampazzi has reimagined a secondary dwelling through an ambitious and refined corten steel house renovation. Originally a modest single-family home split into disconnected levels, the structure has been transformed into a cohesive, spatially dynamic residence, grounded in its setting and enriched by material expression. The house now stands as a testament to contextual sensitivity, spatial reorganization, and architectural depth.

From Fragmentation to Unity: Volumetric Strategy and Spatial Order

The architectural strategy behind the LIH Residence involved more than mere refurbishment. Atelier Rampazzi took a holistic approach, reconfiguring and extending the existing building while introducing new architectural volumes. By fragmenting and repositioning these volumes, the project ensures spatial diversity, reminiscent of a village-like fabric. Each volume was designed with a deliberate offset, creating varied perspectives and guiding occupants through the site organically, evoking movement in harmony with the scale of the human stride.

This spatial choreography begins with two dominant axes—the east-west “Decumanus” and the north-south “Cardo.” The Decumanus forms the primary entry from the street, signified by a striking corten wall paired with exposed concrete and a zenithal opening, while the Cardo provides private circulation, linking the garden and entrance hall. The interplay of these axes orchestrates the site’s hierarchy and movement, rooting the design in Roman planning principles and elevating the experience of both interior and exterior spaces.

Material Expression and Architectural Language

Corten steel dominates the architectural language of the renovated residence. The façade is clad in large, rough corten slabs of varying widths, offering a rich texture that evolves with time and climate. This living material palette transforms the house into a mutable, responsive object within its natural surroundings. The warm rust tones blend seamlessly into the foliage and tree bark, softening the building’s presence and grounding it in the landscape.

The corten surface is structured by decorated horizontal bands that articulate the ground-level overhangs and crown the upper floor. This precise layering of vertical and horizontal elements not only organizes the façade but also adds visual rhythm, depth, and a sculptural quality to the overall massing. The carefully selected window frames and blinds in dark finishes complement the corten, echoing the façade treatment of the neighboring Casa Rondinella and establishing a subtle dialogue between the two buildings.

Interior Architecture and Vertical Connectivity

Inside, the residence adopts a classical domestic program: living spaces are organized on the ground floor, with private bedrooms above. However, the experience is heightened by a central void that connects both levels—a double-height space where light cascades from above, enhancing the sense of openness and fluidity. At its heart lies a commanding fireplace clad in horizontal corten strips, creating a visual and spatial anchor in the communal living area.

This central band also houses the vertical circulation, efficiently linking the two levels while accentuating spatial flow. The organization ensures that no space is residual or unused—every corner is activated through intentional design. Glass, wood, and carefully integrated lighting further define the interiors, providing warmth and softness that contrast yet complement the rugged corten exterior.

Landscape Integration and Garden Renewal

The surrounding garden is no longer a passive backdrop but an integral component of the renovation. A new raised terrace extends the domestic experience into nature, serving as a transitional plane between architecture and landscape. The southern extension of this terrace incorporates a swimming pool and multi-use areas, reinforcing the idea of an outdoor living room and completing the dialogue between built form and natural terrain.

This integration of architecture and environment reinforces the building’s adaptability and residential character while promoting privacy. By moving auxiliary structures like the garage and pool house to the plot's periphery, the house gains a more defined entry and intimate interior core, protected from the public road yet open to the vitality of the landscape.

A Cohesive, Evolving Architectural Statement

The LIH Residence represents a refined corten steel house renovation that marries formal clarity with spatial richness. Atelier Rampazzi’s intervention redefines what adaptive reuse can achieve—preserving the soul of a structure while reimagining it to suit contemporary living. Through material integrity, architectural order, and respect for site context, this residence stands not as a monument but as an evolving, living part of the Ascona landscape.

All Photographs are works of Simone Bossi, Atelier Rampazzi