02/09/2013 – Paramount Residence Alma, in Sexten, South Tyrol, was designed by architect Ulla Hell of Plasma Studio. The project answered two needs at once: the existing Residence Alma guest house required a new distribution and service core, while the architect also needed a home for her young family.
An underused roof space was transformed into an angular crown that connects the renewed reception area on the ground floor with the architecture studio. Plasma Studio had already worked nearby on the Strata Hotel, and here it developed a related outer skin made of larch-wood strips.
The wooden slats wrap around the building in two directions, responding to the topography and the existing volume. As the distance between the wall and the slats changes, the skin creates terraces, sheltered outdoor spaces, privacy and framed views of the Dolomites.
Parametric modeling helped the design team balance construction cost, aesthetics, privacy and views. It also allowed the density and geometry of the wood-and-steel structure to be translated into efficient workshop drawings.
Inside, the residence is dominated by panoramic views and shifting light. The main home unfolds over two levels, with bedrooms, a bright kitchen and living spaces connected to terraces and gardens. The sculptural envelope mediates between the existing building, the family’s evolving resort complex and the surrounding landscape.
miranda_shida
Anna Lohan
Peter Dark
