BAC

The BAC project in Ritten, South Tyrol, marks the 2024 completion of a sensitive renovation and expansion of a historic farmstead by Arch. Lea Mittelberger of StudioBruna. This intervention transforms a long-uninhabited residential wing of the Paarhof—a traditional alpine homestead—into a contemporary dwelling while preserving its agricultural roots and material integrity.

The design approach prioritizes restraint, with new additions and restorations subtly echoing the original structure’s rustic language. Exposed timber beams, rough-plastered walls, and modest stonework maintain the building’s agrarian character, while modern interventions—such as climate-controlled systems and updated sanitary infrastructure—are integrated without disruption. The spatial layout retains the farm’s functional logic, organizing living areas around a central courtyard and adapting the existing layout to contemporary needs.

Materials play a key role in bridging past and present: locally sourced larch and pine for timber framing, reclaimed stone for foundations, and natural lime plasters for interiors create a cohesive palette that feels both timeless and responsive to the region’s alpine residential architecture. The absence of overt sustainability certifications suggests a reliance on passive strategies—thick stone walls for thermal mass, south-facing windows for solar gain, and natural ventilation—aligning with the area’s traditional building practices.

This project exemplifies how historic building renovation in South Tyrol can reconcile preservation with modern living, offering a model for adaptive reuse in the region’s rural landscapes. StudioBruna’s work underscores the value of quiet interventions in heritage contexts, where material honesty and spatial continuity take precedence over formal innovation.