Medieval idyll: a house in Valeggio sul Mincio

Pearl south of Lake Garda: The picturesque village of Valeggio sul Mincio (Verona) lies on the banks of the river Mincio, nestled in a lovely hilly landscape. Here, architect Massimiliano Gamba and his team have carefully renovated and redesigned a listed residential building. Fittings from Dornbracht complete the project, which has been carefully thought through, right down to the smallest detail. 

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Property steeped in history
Narrow alleyways, old-fashioned craft shops, a centuries-old brick bridge: The former fortified village of Valeggio sul Mincio exudes the magic of a place that has hardly changed through the ages. As Massimiliano Gamba knows, anyone who wants to intervene in the existing structure of the ancient houses is therefore faced with major challenges: “Right from the start, our project oscillated between poetic vision and concrete technical feasibility,” says the architect. The residential building, which he was tasked with remodelling, is part of a listed property that is steeped in history. The towers of the magnificent Castello Scaligero, a castle complex from the 13th century, rise directly behind it. Interventions in the existing building should therefore be kept to a minimum, and the historical heritage and local building tradition should be preserved at all costs.

Architectural challenge 
A series of renovation and refurbishment works were carried out, focussing primarily on the interior and the lush garden. Gamba and his team were as authentic as possible in their choice of materials. The interior now combines modern and traditional Mediterranean living aesthetics: dark and light wood elements alternate, complemented by black marble and a striking tiled floor that reflects the entire colour palette.

Interplay of light and dark 
The eat-in kitchen follows the same design principle. It is kept simple and clear, with bare plastered walls facing the windows. On the other side, the wall is clad in wood, giving the room an unexpected dynamic. Tara from Dornbracht in Brushed Dark Platinum blends in discreetly here: The dark colour of the fitting is part of an aesthetic ensemble in which lights, furniture, work surfaces, and even window frames are precisely coordinated. In the pool house, on the other hand, where there is another kitchen, the classic Tara on the kitchen island forms a contrast to the wood veneer and the cream-coloured walls. 

Airy, clear ambience in the bathrooms
Consequently, the sophisticated interplay of light and dark is also continued in the bathrooms. The main bathroom shines almost completely in white – from the curtains to the bowl basin on the vanity unit, to the marble tiles with their delicate grain. Meta in Brushed Dark Platinum and matching products in the shower – also from Dornbracht – provide a clear contrast and thus ground the light and airy ambience. The fitting creates a similar effect in the small guest bathroom. Here, the elegant finish also harmonises with the minimalist washbasin.

Discreet, timeless beauty 
Now that the creative process is complete, Massimiliano Gamba is proud of the result and the people involved in its realisation: “I like to imagine that all the passion that went into the project is expressed as sheer beauty. Discreet, timeless beauty that is indifferent to fleeting trends. Mies van der Rohe once taught us that something is not finished when there is nothing more to add, but when nothing more can be taken away. We designed the house with this in mind,” says the architect. 

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