VIA MORAVIA, CAGLIARI

The project is located within a hilly area on the outskirts of the city of Cagliari, in a residential neighborhood characterized by small- and medium-sized single and multi-family homes, typically inhabited by young couples. The geographical location of the area offers high panoramic potential, both in quantity and quality.

The plot on which the project is situated features a narrow, elongated triangular shape and a steep slope. These characteristics have influenced the design approach in every aspect—from compositional choices to the layout of interior and exterior spaces.

The steep terrain has made it possible to shape the project around a series of terraces, on which the building rests and from which the idea of a Mediterranean garden takes form.

The project draws inspiration from the principles of Mediterranean vernacular architecture, typical of the Spanish coasts, the Greek peninsula, the Maghreb landscape, and central-southern Italy. The morphological and technological features of this building typology—regarded as architectural constants—serve as a foundation for defining strategies aimed at the contemporary design of sustainable architecture in such climatic regions.

Light, wind, warmth, scents, flavors, and colors are all design elements that have contributed to shaping the identity of the home.

The project consists of four independent housing units, each with a private garden, distributed over a single level: two on the ground floor and two on the first floor.

The morphology of the building stems from a basic unit—the living core—to which the service areas are attached and oriented according to the topography of the terrain. The living spaces and outdoor areas are oriented to the south, optimizing the home’s microclimate throughout the year.

To protect the interior spaces, two large blank walls were built, acting as a barrier against the dominant local winds—the Mistral and Sirocco—which thus become integral design elements.

The main openings face south, maximizing natural light and external warmth. The project materializes through the use of two key materials typical of Mediterranean culture: stone and plaster.

The light-colored lime plaster reduces heat absorption, reflecting part of the incident solar radiation and lowering the external surface temperature of the envelope—thereby improving thermal comfort inside the home.

Stone evokes traditional Mediterranean construction, grounding the building in its context. Its mass protects the house while creating a chromatic contrast with the brightness of the plaster, introducing a play of materials and colors within the home's architectural simplicity.

The garden is a further qualifying element of the house—both environmentally, as this part of the city is composed almost entirely of private green spaces, and typologically, since the private garden is an essential component of Mediterranean architecture.

Wrapping around the entire home, the garden offers a sensory experience—a place of connection with nature and a reminder of archaic landscapes, where every sense is awakened by Mediterranean culture and tradition. The presence of flowers, colors, sounds, textures, flavors, and fragrances serves to soothe and relax the spirit.

This atmosphere is created through the use of aromatic plants, herbs, and species typical of the region, such as olive, laurel, myrtle, sage, mint, helichrysum, thyme, santolina, rosemary, and lavender. When stirred by the breeze, these plants purify and perfume the air around the home.