The project is the result of a private competition for a single-family house in an urban quality neighborhood around Lugano. The layout of this neighborhood is defined by vehicular and pedestrian paths, tree plantings and community spaces. The parcels are all intended for single-family dwellings in a context dominated by large gardens. Reading the particular context in which the parcel is located on different levels determined the location and shape of the volume. The idea is to create an elevated platform, a belvedere, that dialogues with the interesting geographical context. The resulting housing typology consists in a living floor positioned as high as possible, between the entrance and room levels. The main entrance with the checkroom is in close contact with the living space through a double-height staircase that visually and spatially connects the two levels. On the middle level, in addition to the dining room, living and service rooms, there is a large outdoor terrace with a swimming pool. A special feature of the large living-dining level, which is glazed on both sides, is that it allows a relationship with the surrounding landscape that goes beyond the normal framing, visually nullifying the boundaries between inside and outside. The room level is created in the basement, below the horizon of the living floor. Retreating to one's room thus becomes a passage to earth, a reduction of the view to the surrounding environment. | 
