Guidacci develops unconventional Italian home addition out of sustainable zinc siding

One solution to the dilemma of needing more space in one’s home, yet only having a small lot on which to build, is to build up. And that is what designer Raimondo Guidacci chose to do with a small home in Torfarello, Italy.

Named the “House on the House,” this construction deviates from the norm by using striking geometric shapes to enclose an extra bedroom and bathroom on its second floor.

In a neighborhood of small lots, this home sticks out from the rest. Instead of relying on linear construction, the designers created the second floor unit to rest abstractly upon the first floor, allowing room for terraces on each side. Strip windows adorn the front of the addition and invite ample sunlight and a central staircase connects to the first floor.

The unit is made entirely out of fir wood and faced with rheinzink, a highly durable titanium zinc product. Rheinzink is entirely recyclable and uses up to one third of recycled zinc in its production. It also takes very little energy to create and harmful emissions tend to be low.

Creativity is key when considering how to grow one’s home to include new space. Thankfully, thinking outside of the box (literally) can summon new ideas that bend the mind, yet not the commitment to sustainable housing.