Architectural Project
Nemini Teneri is the first residence in Sicily entirely clad with cork panels, featuring an artificial lake that supplies purified water and a natural pool, nestled in the Sicilian countryside among carob and olive trees.
Cork gives the architectural envelope a clean, rigorous look that is well integrated with the surrounding nature, providing maximum energy efficiency. It is a central subject in the narratives of many architects, following in the footsteps of a giant like Alvaro Siza… Stories interpreted by the pencil of architects and narrated through the images of photographers… Stories of life, of places, of cork, of people who have not simply become owners of a material but have shared its purpose.
The structure is made of wood using X-LAM technology, in line with the architectural sensibilities of the owning family, aiming to create a low-energy-impact residence capable of providing excellent sound insulation and superior seismic resistance.
Wood, as a renewable and natural raw material, offers a unique living comfort thanks to its high airtightness, good thermal insulation throughout the year, complete absence of toxic emissions, and effective regulation of humidity levels in all rooms, as it can absorb or release the necessary amount of moisture.
Architecturally, the house showcases its extremely minimalist character by juxtaposing and blending materials like cork, wood, concrete, stone, and iron, revealing their raw textures without compromise or pretense, reflecting the strong stylistic influence of Bauhaus architecture so dear to the owner’s family.
All materials used in the construction are presented as they are, allowing their “structural” function to purely convey the very essence of the architectural project, true to the concept of “less is more.”
The two curved exposed concrete walls are intentionally left visible, standing as a true sculpture that contrasts with the cork envelope, the surrounding nature, and the local stone, which becomes another defining feature of the project.
Internally, all spaces are designed to be inhabited and lived in daily, as are the furnishings, crafted and arranged to avoid excessive ornamentation, bringing inside the materials used outside, such as iron and wood—this time treated with natural beeswax to further enhance its surface.
All materials, including floors, ceilings, and supporting structures, have been treated with various types of natural beeswax to further enhance their surfaces.
Great care and sensitivity have also been given to the interior finishes, where layers of jute and natural lime, manually applied, lend a soft, distinguished, and welcoming look, beautifully contrasting with the helicopter-finished industrial concrete flooring and the kitchen wall, which is entirely clad in iron.
All rooms are served by a controlled mechanical ventilation system that ensures a regular exchange of air flows and regulates humidity, providing an exceptionally high quality of air. The result is an ideal thermal and hygrometric balance, enhancing efficiency and resulting in significant energy savings.
The architectural layout, the position of the structure, the large windows, and the views were all designed to maintain visual contact with the sea and the surrounding landscape. No matter where you are within the property, you are captivated by the natural beauty of this stunning location.
The entire project was conceived to create a true oasis of bio-sustainability and relaxation: the lake, pool, garden, and surrounding greenery all follow the same philosophy of respect for nature, integrating to form a self-sustaining ecosystem.
The construction of the lake, beyond blending seamlessly with the garden, serves as a phytodepuration system for the pool’s water, a 20-meter long lap pool by 3.10 meters wide, where one can swim in complete privacy, enjoying the purity of water free from any chemical agents or other substances, leaving an extraordinary sensation of freshness on the skin.
The vegetation chosen to adorn the garden aligns with the project’s concept and was selected to avoid water waste, using drought-resistant, endemic plants that require little or, in some seasons, no irrigation.
Nemini Teneri is the result of extensive study and design work, during which the client was able to rely on the professionalism of various experts who contributed to the realization of the project.
The preliminary and definitive project was overseen by Architects Paolo Borghino, Giovanni Benedetti, and Sarah Becchio.
The executive project, structural design, material selection, system planning, architectural and structural detailing, design of furnishings and outdoor spaces, and site management involved the active and daily collaboration of the owners, along with a team of local professionals, including Engineer Giorgio Scrofani, Engineer Raffaele Giannone, Architect Tommaso Verdesca, and the Darch2 architecture studio led by architects Viviana Pitrolo and Danilo Demaio.
Insights into the vision that guided us in this project:
- Philosophy of free living.
- Naturally home.
- An oasis of biodiversity and environmental sustainability, crafted to harmonize with both people and nature, where one can live with zero impact and where it self-sustains.
- The house is clad in cork, like a tree.
- Less is more, a famous quote by Walter Gropius, the first director of the Bauhaus, the iconic school of art, design, and architecture founded over 100 years ago in Weimar. Less is more encapsulates the stylistic essence of Nemini Teneri, a house with simple, minimal lines that openly reveals the raw materiality of the elements used in its construction: wood, cork, concrete, stone, and iron, interacting in an architectural model perfectly integrated with the rural landscape of Ragusa’s province.
Notes: CORK AND ARCHISTARS
Cork is a raw material highly valued by architects, designers, and world-renowned artists due to its unique properties, which, alongside its visual impact, contribute to an overall sense of well-being and comfort.
It is also used in the Library of Congress and on NASA space shuttles.
Quote from the publication “Storie di Sughero” by Tecnosugheri (Italian distributor for Faccia Vista cork):
“For years, we produced and sold expanded cork for insulation. The need was to insulate, and cork responded better than other materials for this purpose. Plus, it was natural. Once covered, however, its poetry vanished, and few knew what lay behind that plaster. We felt a sense of frustration, knowing there was much more behind it. A story, a culture, a future. Then something changed. Faccia Vista cork appeared on the market, and it was revolutionary. The same product, just a bit denser and smoother, suddenly became interesting. It transcended the role of a construction material to become a medium for sharing ethical and aesthetic values. The only insulator that could do so, without compromise. Cork had transformed from an object to the subject, a protagonist in the narratives of many architects, following in the footsteps of a giant like Alvaro Siza… Stories interpreted by the pencil of architects and narrated through the images of photographers… Stories of life, stories of places, stories of cork, stories of people who have not become owners of a material but have shared its purpose.”
ARCH. ALVARO SIZA VIEIRA, the renowned architect and designer, one of the most famous in the world, was among the first to use cork in various architecturally significant projects; he was the first to use exposed cork in 2000 to clad the Portuguese Pavilion at the Hannover Expo.
EDUARDO SOUTO DE MOURA
Pritzker Prize winner, chose the Originals Natural finish from the Wicanders Cork Essence range to complete his studio. Originals Natural is a finish that showcases the grain and natural shadows of cork, thus alluding to the sustainability and renewability of the raw material from which it is made.
