Haus Carezza

In the heart of Welschnofen, South Tyrol, Haus Carezza (2021) by Studiotara—led by Arch. Heike Pohl and Arch. Andreas Zanier—emerges as a contemporary retreat redefining alpine residential design. This single-family home, built to Klimahaus Standard A, blends modern functionality with the rugged beauty of its high-altitude surroundings, serving as a summer retreat, winter refuge, and family sanctuary.

The structure’s dual-pitched, staggered roof—a playful twist on traditional alpine forms—disrupts the monolithic volume while anchoring the design to the landscape. By embedding much of the program underground, the architects create light wells that flood lower-level spaces with natural illumination, while the wood-shingle cladding ages gracefully, harmonizing with the region’s centuries-old building traditions. The home’s orientation maximizes panoramic views of the Dolomites while shielding privacy from neighboring properties.

Inside, raw materials—larch wood, local stone, and steel—meet meticulous craftsmanship, offering a stark contrast to the weathered exterior. The interiors prioritize warmth and intimacy, with spaces designed to amplify the sensory experience of mountain living: the crackle of a fire, the scent of wood, the vastness of the alpine horizon framed through expansive glazing. Collaborators included Filippo Gemmi, Kathrin Ungerer, and Gerold Haller, alongside landscape and engineering teams ensuring structural resilience in this demanding climate.

As a sustainable alpine dwelling, Haus Carezza exemplifies how contemporary architecture in South Tyrol can honor heritage while embracing innovation—where every detail, from the passive climate strategies to the weathering wood, reflects both respect for place and a commitment to timeless living.