The site of Melano reveals a dual nature: to the west it opens onto the valley and the distant waters of Lake Lugano, while to the east it is framed by a verdant slope. The surrounding urban fabric, fragmented in character, gradually densifies toward the south, where larger volumes such as the historic Filanda emerge.

The project responds to the competition brief with a single building that brings together a nursing home, a day center, an underground car park, and a public park. The volume develops along the north–south axis, adapting to the bordering streets without rigid alignment. On Via Capeleta, the upper floors follow the urban grain before bending eastward to embrace the park and reconnecting southward with the historic nucleus. On Via Carbonera, the natural slope enables a more intimate, sheltered space. Between these two conditions, the central living hall, enclosed by large glass façades, becomes the heart of the project, visually immersed in greenery.

The recessed ground floor enhances permeability, creating covered thresholds between city and building. The linear ramps on Via Capeleta lead to the underground parking, while the main entrance is sheltered by a pergola-like extension. The day center can be reached both directly from the park and through the communal hall.

Programmatically, the compact three-story structure distinguishes between a transparent, civic ground floor and two identical upper levels that host the residential wings. Each floor is articulated around four luminous communal spaces, eliminating the monotony of corridors and allowing flexible configurations. At the center, the nurse station ensures oversight and proximity.

The architectural expression emphasizes a duality of materials: a light wooden volume that breaks down into recognizable residential units rests atop a robust, transparent concrete base, echoing the vernacular language of stone plinths and timber structures.

The external landscape completes the scheme: raised gardens along the eastern slope, a southwest-oriented park traversed by pedestrian paths, a children’s playground, a protected garden for the day center. Together these spaces encourage intergenerational exchange, transforming the Casa anziani into a civic landmark, rooted in landscape yet open to the community.

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STATUS: competition entry

LOCATION: Melano (CH)

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER : Monotti Ingegneri Consulenti SA

MEP: Erisel SA