SEASHELL HOUSE

location: Vibonati, Italy

area: 3,200 sq ft

project team: Phōs design studio

photography: A. Morales

Before the winter northern cold wind hits the southern Italian coasts, fishermen pulls their boats to dry. They carefully select one dry section on the beach and dig a 4 feet ditch surrounded by a circle of stones. Then they flip upside down the boat's hull and place it on top of the stones to prevent the wood from rotting.

The beach then becomes a temple made of small wooden vaults. The seashell house concept follows the same principle. The stones found on the site have been re-utilized to build an outer masonry wall, on top of which the wooden vaulted roof sits.

The generous open layout of the ground floor welcomes all the shared family functions, such as cooking and enjoying the fireplace On the first floor each wooden vault contains an intimate space for each member of the family made of a master bedroom, a terrace, and a bathroom. The vaulted roof captures enough rainwater to ensure water during the summer drought while the solar panel plant makes the house energy efficient and off the grid.

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