Doragno Castle
- by Maria Mazza
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- 2021-03-29 00:00:00
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- International
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- 142 / EN
Heritage renovation
- Building Type : Historic castle, other freaky buildings,…
- Construction Year : 2014
- Delivery year : 2017
- Address 1 - street : via doragno 1 6721 ROVIO, Switzerland
- Climate zone : [Cwa] Mild, dry winter, hot and wet summer.
- Net Floor Area : 490 m2
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Primary energy need :
45.62 kWhpe/m2.year
(Calculation method : Other )
The castle of Doragno was born from the transformation of an ancient medieval castle into a private residence where the existing building, which did not enhance the castle, has been subsequently restored, giving a new breath to the ancient walls of the building, and completed with a new zero-energy building (NZEB) also using renewable solar energy in an integrated roof solution. The original stone walls are highlighted by large windows that complete the volume of the existing building. An integrated photovoltaic system and solar collectors are installed on the roof.
Heritage Significance
Elements worthy of preservation
In building restoration and conservation field, the architects of the project considers that the following aspects need to be preserved: 1: the volume and shape of the building ; 2: the skin of the building ; 3: the history of the building
Heritage value assesment
In this project it was chosen to preserve only the medieval part of the building. This choice was made because the interventions done in the sixties did not help to preserve the history of the castle and where even hiding some medieval parts. The cultural heritage office supervisors approved the project and agreed with reflections and considerations from architects. In this project the architects have re-created the shape of the castle using modern materials that differ from the original ones but don't dominate and discretely approach to ancient parts.
State of repair
Conditions of the envelope
The building was restored preserving the walls and completing the volume with new materials that with the aim not to drown out the old part of the building, but to enhance it. The building is used as a private residence and consists of two main buildings: one to the west that includes a basement and 2 floors above ground, and one to the east that includes 3 floors above ground.
Pre-intervention building services
Defence castle built during the war between Como and Milan (1118-1127). In the last fifty years the building had mono-familiar residential use.
Data reliability
3rd part certified
Photo credit
deltaZERO & Luciano Carugo
Contractor
Construction Manager
Stakeholders
Others
Ufficio dei beni culturali Viale Stefano Franscini 30a; +41 91 814 13 80Thermal consultancy agency
Termoconsult srl via Ugo Foscolo 2, I-21018, Sesto Calende (VA); +39 0331 92 30 26Structures calculist
Chiesa&Partners via Livio 24, CH-6830, Chiasso; info@chiesaepartners.ch; +41 91 682 35 78Others
GreenKey Sagl Via Ceresio 45, CH-6963, Pregassona; info@greenkey.ch; +41 91 630 64 91Owner approach of sustainability
Single-family house, restoration and new building extension. Private residence building (historic not-listed building in Ticino) with NZEB target using also solar renewables energy in an integrated roof solution. The castle of Doragno was born from the transformation of an ancient medieval castle. The original stone walls are highlighted by the large windows that complete the volume of the existing building. An integrated photovoltaic system and solar collectors are installed on the roof.
Architectural description
The castle of Doragno was born from the transformation of an ancient medieval castle into a private residence where the existing building, which did not enhance the castle, has been subsequently restored, giving a new breath to the ancient walls of the building, and completed with a new zero-energy building (NZEB) also using renewable solar energy in an integrated roof solution. The original stone walls are highlighted by large windows that complete the volume of the existing building. An integrated photovoltaic system and solar collectors are installed on the roof.
The architects have re-created the shape of the castle using modern materials that differ from the original ones but don't dominate and discretely approach to ancient parts.
In building restoration and conservation field, the architects of the project considers that the following aspects need to be preserved: 1: the volume, the shape of the building 2: the skin of the building 3: the history of the building. The building was restored preserving the walls and completing the volume with new materials that with the aim not to drown out the old part of the building, but to enhance it. The building is used as a private residence and consists of two main buildings, one to the west that includes a basement and 2 floors above ground and one to the east that includes 3 floors above ground.
Urban environment
Doragno Castle is surrounded by a large park. Its wide glass walls connect internal spaces with the externals.
Some public services and stores are located about a 1.5 kilometers away.
The castle of Doragno had a strategic location: it was build on a promontory and it was a point of observation and defence along the way to the Mara and Intelvi valleys. It was a part of a path bordered by fortified castles and watchtowers built at regular intervals on the way to the Alps.
The restoration project of 11th century Doragno Castle is based on the dialogue of the building with the surrounding landscape and on the integration of energy producing technology in the building’s skin.
The photovoltaic system and the solar thermal system cover the total annual consumption of energy needed for heating and cooling of the complex.
The roof, made of opaque black PV panels with the inclusion of the needed solar panels, disappears in the dark vegetation of the forest and the large glass surfaces that complete the volume of the building reflect the context: what emerges from the landscape are the stone walls of the old manor house.
Contest categories

Energy & Temperate Climates
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