- Project: Courtyard House in Valpolicella
- Architect: Studio ABCPLUS
- Location: Italy, Valpolicella, Verona
- Year: 2024
- Photography: Marco Toté
Amid the vineyards of Valpolicella, celebrated for its historic villas and world-renowned wines, ABCPLUS Studio has completed a striking courtyard house that redefines the tradition of Italian domestic life. Completed in 2024, the project merges modern design sensibilities with the enduring architectural heritage of the region, creating a home that feels at once timeless and contemporary.
A Courtyard at the Heart of the Home
The residence is organized around a south-facing internal courtyard that functions as the central element of the design. More than an architectural gesture, this courtyard acts as a social and spatial hub, creating connections between indoor living spaces and the outdoors.
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Expansive glazing allows uninterrupted views into the courtyard.
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Retractable glass walls blur the boundary between interior and exterior during warmer months.
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The courtyard becomes a walkable extension of the living room, serving as a vibrant, flexible threshold.
This inward focus reflects the Italian tradition of private, protected domestic space while updating it for contemporary lifestyles.
Tradition Reinterpreted
The house balances heritage and modernity through its exterior composition:
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A main double-height volume with a pitched roof anchors the design.
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Two smaller volumes, inspired by traditional Venetian barchesse, complement the main block.
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Generous openings and minimalist detailing translate historic typologies into a modern architectural language.
Set within a cultural and agricultural landscape, the project engages respectfully with its surroundings while asserting its contemporary identity.
A Dialogue with History
Inspiration for the project echoes Giò Ponti’s reflections on Italian domestic life:
“The Italian home is a place to savor life and the beauty of our sky and land.”
ABCPLUS channels this ethos by creating a design that is simple, rigorous, and open. The architecture cultivates intimacy while maintaining visual dialogue with the landscape, offering a modern interpretation of Italian living that remains deeply rooted in tradition.
Materiality and Atmosphere
The residence employs restrained materials that emphasize clarity and permanence. Neutral tones and clean surfaces highlight the geometry of the volumes, while glass ensures transparency and lightness. The play of shadow within the courtyard shifts throughout the day, reinforcing the house as a living, breathing organism connected to its environment.
