This home responds to the idea of biophilia

Blurring boundaries between natural and artificial, Carlo Ratti Associati, in collaboration with Italo Rota, unveils a residence that revolves around a ten-metre-tall tree at the centre of the living space…

Built out of a traditional Italian farmhouse outside the city of Parma, the home responds to the idea of biophilia, a scientific hypothesis proposed by noted biologist and Harvard professor E.O. Wilson, which suggests that human beings share an innate desire to live close to nature. This concept is foremost expressed in the 60-year-old ficus tree named Alma standing in the middle of the living space. It belongs to a species called ficus australis that enjoys stable temperatures all year long and is thus well-suited for indoor living conditions.

Yet, to create the ideal setting for the tree to thrive, CRA has completely redesigned the old farmhouse to maximise natural light, installing a ten-meter-tall, south-facing glass wall. The design harnesses technology and the micro-climate of the surrounding area to control the temperature and humidity so that the tree and the home’s occupants can live together comfortably. Both the windows and the roof can be opened and closed automatically to adjust the amount of sunlight and fresh air entering the house.

The Greenary, as the house is christened, consists of seven terraced spaces, with three among them above the entrance and three below it. These dynamic, interconnected rooms reinterpret 20th-century architect Adolf Loos’ principle of the Raumplan – with nature at its core.

Upon arrival, residents and visitors descend one metre to the main living area and the kitchen, which puts them at eye level with the idyllic meadow outside. The other levels of the house are conceived to form a naturally inspired journey, throughout which the tree serves as a prominent pillar. Nature is also incorporated in other forms throughout the interior space, such as in flooring that incorporates soil and orange peels. Multiple living quarters encircle the tree’s leafy branches, all the way up to its top.

“Light enters the interior space through the pierced brick wall, corten steel stairs, and tree branches. By doing so, it also mingles with the architectural details of the house, and leaves subtle shades all around it,” adds Andrea Cassi, partner of CRA.

The house is built on a site that spans over 2.5 hectares. Apart from the main residential unit, CRA has also converted a granary at the back of the house into a workspace. Surrounding both buildings, a garden cultivated by renowned landscape designer Paolo Pejrone celebrates the biodiversity of the local region. The project advances CRA’s research into new ways of fusing architecture, natural elements, and advanced technological solutions.

Fact File:
Project Name: The Greenary
Design Firm: CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati
Creative Lead: Italo Rota
CRA Team: Carlo Ratti, Andrea Cassi (partner in charge), Francesco Strocchio (project manager), Alberto Benetti, Mario Daudo, Serena Giardina, Anna Morani, Gerolamo Gnecchi Ruscone, Giovanni Trogu, Matteo Zerbi
Location: Parma, North Italy
Photo Credits: Delfino Sisto Legnani and Alessandro Saletta