House F, In the heart of the Tremona district, in the municipality of Mendrisio, a steep terrain provides the opportunity for a powerful architectural gesture. Here, a single-family home rises like a concrete monolith from the ground, blending in with the natural morphology of the soil.
© Giorgio Marafioti
The project develops vertically, following the logic of the slope, like an ascending path of living. At the base, the concrete plinth is immersed in the earth, housing the sleeping area and garage. The architectural body then opens upwards, culminating in a bright, open space that accommodates the living area: a domestic observatory facing the landscape.
© Giorgio Marafioti
The choice to position the living area on the upper level offers an uninterrupted view of the surrounding nature, relating to the forest to the east and creating a direct connection with the green area to the north. A continuous 1.30-meter-high perimeter window forms a transparent ribbon that embraces the view, allowing light and silence to filter through, while ensuring privacy for daily activities.
© celoria Architecs
Inside this suspended volume, space flows seamlessly. The only exceptions within this fluid, continuous space are the small pantry area and the kitchen. Protecting this ethereal environment, a four-pitched roof rests on eight pillars, creating a section that varies between 1.30 and 5.40 meters in height, in a play of proportions that enhances the sense of refuge and openness.
© Giorgio Marafioti
The house was born from the client’s desire for a place of peace, where time expands between the pages of a book in front of the fireplace, and where she can welcome her children’s families during school holidays. An architecture designed to experience silence and intimacy, while maintaining a strong connection with the landscape.
© Giorgio Marafioti
The internal layout is organized around a vertical core: a staircase connecting the three levels, which, rather than being a simple functional element, becomes a hinge between depth and lightness, between shadow and light.
Project Info
Architects: celoria Architects
Country: Switzerland, Mendrisio
Area: 350 m²
Year: 2020
Photographs: Giorgio Marafioti, celoria Architecs
Design Team: Aldo Celoria, Verena Argenti, Nadia Cristelo Dias, Paolo Tutone
Construction Company: Pietro Calderari
Civil Engineer: Brenni Engineering
Heating And Ventilation Engineer And Building Physics: Cimarolli Fabio and Andrea
Electrical Engineer: P&P studio elettrotecnico
Plumbing And Heating Systems: Momoidraulica
Metal Constructions: Cometecs suisse
Plastering Work: ATN
Painter: Emiliano Cavadini
Joint Free Floors: Pantic
Chimney Sweep Work: Fabio Rezzonico & Co
Madeline Brooks is a Projects Editor at Arch2O, where she has been shaping and refining architectural content since March 2024. With over a decade of experience in editorial work, she has curated, revised, and published an array of projects covering architecture, urbanism, and public space design. A graduate of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Madeline brings a strong academic foundation and a discerning editorial eye to each piece she oversees. Since joining Arch2O, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the platform’s editorial direction, with a focus on sustainability, social relevance, and cutting-edge design. Madeline excels at translating complex architectural ideas into clear, engaging stories that resonate with both industry professionals and general readers. She works closely with architects, designers, and global contributors to ensure every project is presented with clarity, depth, and compelling visual narrative. Her editorial leadership continues to elevate Arch2O’s role in global architectural dialogue.