Located in a rural village in Tregnago, Verona, Casa Larun is a residential project designed by Zarcola Architetti. The project explores a modular construction system where the new wooden structure works in harmony with the existing stone walls. Both elements support each other, embraces a warm atmosphere.

Casa Larun is located in the historic center of Tregnago, a rural village of the Lessini Mountains.

The building, originally a small barn with a trapezoidal floor plan, has two façades, one facing a shared northern courtyard and the other opening to a private southern garden.

The project explores a construction system based on structural repetition, creating an anti-seismic framework where the wooden structure counteracts the thrust of the stone walls, which in turn brace the timber framework.

Structurally, the project explores the limits of wood. We minimized the influence area of the floors, allowing for pillar sections as small as 3×3 cm.

To reinforce the structure and optimize assembly, we introduced special horizontal components, “wood comb”, which also accelerated the self-construction process.

The staircase is a key structural element, providing lateral stability where stone walls are absent. Its 3×3 cm steps connect to the pillars, acting as additional bracing. Assembly followed a north-to-south sequence rather than a conventional bottom-up approach, with all elements respecting a 3 cm modular system.

Every component of the house follows a 3 cm modular system.

We aimed to create an ornament through the structural elements themselves, pushing them to their limit and emphasizing their repetition.

The house is organized on two levels. The ground floor follows a climatic logic: the kitchen is placed in the cooler northern area, while a central fixed furniture element divides spaces and enhances privacy. The upper floor contains the bedrooms and bathroom.

The house embraces a rural aesthetic, enriched by slight imperfections from self-construction, reflecting the region’s rural identity.

The north façade is enclosed for insulation and privacy, while the south façade is fully glazed, maximizing natural light.

The main façade, built with dry-laid prun stone, inspired from local vernacular architecture (the Lessinia region).

The glazed façade is divided into three sections—living area, bedroom, and staircase.

The living room features a rhythmic sequence of fixed and openable glazing doors, giving verticality.

The first-floor, bedroom, screen its a copy of the ground floor’s pattern but projects outward, reinforcing its connection to the garden. A large glass panel, 6m tall, in front of the staircase emphasizes the verticality found throughout the interior.

Facts & Credits
Title Casa Larun
Typology Architecture, Residence
Location Via dei bandi, Tregnago, Verona
Area 90m2
Status Completed, 2024
Architecture Zarcola architetti – Edoardo Giancola, Federico Zarattini
Consultants Opera mista srl, Brescia, engineering services
Photography DSL studio, Delfino Sisto Legnani, Alessandro Saletta
Text by the authors


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