Tocchetti Architetti e Ingegneri . photos: © Giorgio Marafioti
The “Casa del Personale”, designed by Swiss architect Manuel Pauli, is a 1970s building under cultural heritage protection. The renovation aimed to restore the original exterior, clear the interior spaces of various additions accumulated over the years, and enhance the rooms’ character through a newly designed boiserie unit.
On both floors, the corridors have been reimagined as communal spaces that foster a strong connection with the surrounding natural landscape. The adjacent concrete annex, previously a tank room, has been repurposed with a new function and dignity—transformed into a bicycle storage area.
The two volumes are harmonized through the addition of a terrace, accessible from the kitchen via a newly created opening toward the peak and an external staircase.
Material and color choices were carefully studied to evoke the atmosphere of the building’s original era. Warm, earth-toned hues dominate the palette, while a delicate glaze applied to the woodwork enhances the natural reddish grain of the wood, recalling its original coloration and reinforcing the timeless character of the space.
Through this careful restoration, the building not only regains its historical identity but also evolves into a more functional and welcoming environment, where past and present coexist in harmony.
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Project name: Casa del Personale
Location: 6810 Isone, Ticino, Switzerland
Program: dormitory/accommodation
Client: Dipartimento federale della difesa, della protezione della popolazione e dello sport DDPS. Armasuisse Immobili – Berna
Project timeline : 2022 (concept) – 2024 (end of construction)
Architecture: Tocchetti Architetti e Ingegneri
Project team: Simone Tocchetti, Irene Lucca, Alessio Crespi, Andrea Colozzi Photographic credits: Giorgio Marafioti
