A brutalist masterpiece between lake and sky
Welcome to Villa al Castello in Stresa, a one-of-a-kind residence born from the bold and visionary renovation of a historic early 20th-century structure.
Those who step inside aren’t merely guests — they become part of a living work of architecture, designed to be inhabited.
The project bears the signature of Italo-Swiss architect Mario Invernizzi, trained in the 1970s at the Federal Polytechnic of Lausanne, under the guidance of major figures of contemporary architecture such as Mario Botta, Álvaro Siza, Kenneth Frampton, Vittorio Gregotti, James Stirling, and Robert Venturi. His design vision draws from the modernist and functionalist traditions of the Bauhaus, inspired by Le Corbusier, Marcel Breuer, and Charlotte Perriand.
Here, the sharp lines of brutalism blend seamlessly with the breathtaking landscape of Lake Maggiore: exposed concrete cast in irregular wooden formworks, essential columns, and full-height glass walls open the entire upper floor to a panoramic 180-degree view.
The original masonry has been preserved and reinterpreted through a vibrant red — a hue typical of rural Alpine architecture — and perimeter friezes in “ton sur ton” tones, inspired by early 20th-century aesthetics. The bold vertical extension and interplay of light, voids and transparency turn the villa into a livable sculpture.
This project is a true exploration of material: concrete, wooden forms and glass are revealed rather than hidden. The building proudly shows its structural skeleton, transforming it into visual language and architectural narrative.
It’s a radical choice that merges constructive rigor with expressive freedom. The result is an architecture that embodies modernist principles: flexibility, simplicity, and rationality.
The interiors feature custom furnishings, historic 20th-century design pieces, industrial lighting elements and original artworks from around the world. Every detail is curated to offer an authentic visual and sensory experience.
Villa al Castello is a vision of concrete and light — a quiet landing place between lake and sky — an architectural, emotional, and cultural experience for those who seek beauty, authenticity, and comfort.
HORIZON VILLAS
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