Work Team
Temporary professional association:
Construction management, coordination and integration of specialized services, architectural and structural design, operational structural management: Arch. Andrea Taddia – Mythos; architectural and restoration design, artistic direction, operational construction management, coordination of investigations: Arch. Giordano-Bruno Cristinelli – Studio Cristinelli & Cristinelli; Arch. Dario Giuseppe Maso; Safety coordination during design and execution: Eng. Roberto Taddia – Mythos; design of plumbing, mechanical, electrical, special, and fire protection systems, operational management of systems and fire protection: Eng. Roberto Taddia – Mythos; planning of investigations on historical materials and decorated surfaces, operational management of artistic restoration: Rest. Daniela Campagnola – Campagnola Restauro.
Description and historical references
Located in the urban center of Sailetto along Strada Zara, Villa Grassetti is a property of significant historical and architectural value. Built around 1560 as a noble residence, the villa underwent a major renovation in the 19th century, attributed to architect Giovanni Battista Vergani, which defined its current formal and functional configuration. The architectural layout is imposing and rigorously symmetrical, featuring a central rectangular body organized on two above-ground levels, a basement, and an attic. The roof is a hipped structure topped by a central skylight. Access to the ground floor is via a monumental staircase flanked by a loggia, an architectural element mirrored on the rear facade. The internal organization revolves around a large central hall, which serves as the main distributional hub connecting the perimeter rooms located at the corners of the floor plan. A double-ramp staircase, positioned along one of the long sides of the hall, leads to the upper floor, replicating the same spatial configuration. The structure is completed by four lateral wings connected to the central core on the north and south sides. Constructed in plastered load-bearing masonry, the building harmoniously integrates into the surrounding urban context. Over time, the villa has served various purposes: initially a private residence, it later became a vacation home and, more recently, a venue for seminars. This functional evolution is reflected in the layering of architectural interventions, making the building a significant testament to the architectural and social history of the local area.
Services provided
Preliminary, definitive, and executive design with graphic deliverables at various scales. Coordination of specialized services and preparation of construction details. Design of restoration interventions and accessibility solutions. Technical-administrative management and construction management for building and restoration works.
The Project
The restoration project for Villa Grassetti involves a coordinated set of interventions aimed at recovering the building, not only materially but also functionally, with the goal of returning the monument to the community. The new intended uses, outlined in the Feasibility Study and agreed upon with the Contracting Authority, are designed to integrate the villa into the social and cultural fabric of the community. The project includes spaces for local associations, intended as meeting and gathering places, particularly for the residents of the Sailetto area. Flexible exhibition spaces are also planned to host temporary exhibitions, respecting the building’s structural capacity. A portion of the villa is designated for tourist accommodation, offering guesthouse services for both visitors and business travelers, along with a catering point, such as a bar or bistro, which can operate independently or in conjunction with other activities. Spaces for events, both public and private, such as ceremonies and receptions, are also planned. The project includes spaces suitable for conferences, meetings, and educational activities, such as seminars or training sessions, enhancing the existing small theater as a theatrical space. The external park is intended for recreational activities and environmentally focused initiatives. All these functions are integrated while respecting the villa’s historical structure, limiting transformative interventions to areas less significant in terms of architectural and decorative profile. The spatial distribution follows a layout consistent with the original ground floor plan, organized according to a quadripartite structure based on the two main orthogonal axes of the noble core. This approach enhances the four pairs of historical rooms that originally served as independent living units for the Grassetti brothers, each accessible from the central hall.
Project deliverables
The project is accompanied by extensive technical documentation, articulated across multiple phases and levels of detail. The general architectural and restoration project defines the overall intervention framework, including plans, elevations, and sections of the existing state (scale 1:100) and a related technical report. The executive project (scale 1:50) details the internal distribution across various levels, with particular attention to the noble core and the main wings of the complex, including mezzanine levels and the attic for a comprehensive view of the building. A dedicated section compares the project variant with the approved project, highlighting the main changes through updated plans, sections, and elevations. The documentation is completed by numerous detailed drawings (scales 1:20 and 1:10) related to architectural sections, construction solutions, decorative restorations, and facade interventions. A focus on accessibility includes solutions for overcoming architectural barriers. The project is finalized with technical-accounting documentation, including quantity surveys, economic analyses, and contractual documents to support the intervention’s management.