16010CM
Monforte d’Alba Piemonte


The structural idea of the project comes from the need to respect the language of the Langhe on the outside, and the desire to develop new spatial research in the inside.
The structure thus becomes the load-bearing skeleton of the building, and above all the element through which the space is generated and divided.
A large pitched roof in concrete generates two canopies, and is supported by inclined steel pillars, by the canopies themselves and by bodies that contain the vertical elements, such as the elevator and the physical plant systems.
The horizontal forces are balanced by the related parts of the inclined pillars and by three perimeter partitions, with different orientations, that extend to the lower level, where they convey the load down to the foundation.
The basement level contains the continuation of the sloping steel pillars in similar vertical concrete pillars.
The roof is thus the starting point for the entire project, marked by the presence of a ridge beam and the torsional resistance provided by the underlying system of concrete shells that form the canopies, boxed elements capable of organizing the space below and containing secondary spaces.
(Credits ©DIMA)
The canopy that extends lengthwise is spaced by the presence of four concrete diaphragms, which stiffen the zones of connection between the horizontal structure of the roof-canopy system and the vertical structure that supports it. The two pediments placed at the extremities of the roof are broken down and shifted on the various levels, corresponding to the planes of positioning of the diaphragms.
(Credits ©MikaelOlsson)
(Credits ©MikaelOlsson)
The uphill pediment vanishes in the left part of the pitch, permitting the creation of a large sheltered but open space, with the function of an area for the delivery of the grapes. The downhill pediment, instead, is structure on three levels and contributes to support the roof pitches.
The ground floor volume is bordered by continuous glazing, at a height varying between 2.2 and 2.7 meters, depending on whether it is below the pediments or edged by the pitch itself. It is a curtain conceived as an independent part that divides the heated space of the ground floor from the outdoor sheltered space.
Its flexibility, dictated by the structure of the roof, permits the creation of passages and terraces of various proportions. The inclined pillars inside this volume have a slope dictated by the need to connect the regular grid on the semi-basement level with the most suitable points to provide support for the roof-canopy system
FACTS

Design team + Construction Supervision
FONDAMENTA + Matteo Clerici
Collaborators: Matteo Broggini, Alessandro Zanella, Margherita Massafra

Interior Design
Matteo Clerici, hus

Structural engineering
B&C Associati (Prof. Ing. Antonio Capsoni)

Consultants
Progettazioni Impianti & Servizi (Hvac Engineering)
Integra Soluzione (Mep Engineering)
Dott. Gabriele Margiaria (Geologo)

Contractor
Cogefa Spa (Construction company)

Client
Società Agricola 5 sogni srl

Building data
Site Area 5140 sqm
Gross Floor Area 1595 sqm
Number of Levels: 3

Chronology
Design: November 2016 – May 2017
Construction: July 2017 – July 2020

Typology
Winery
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16010_CM
2016
Monforte d'alba, Piemonte, Italy
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18018_EH_RP02
2018
Val di Noto, Sicilia, Italy
Projects
2025
Architectural Record.
Issue 06. Design Vanguard 2025
Publication
2025
GA Houses Magazine.
Issue 199. 24047_IB
Publication
2024
GA Houses Magazine
Issue 196. Experimental Hill and two Houses in Sicily
Publication
2024
Costruzioni Metalliche
Magazine. Set Ott 2024_METAMORFOSI
Publication
2023
ARKETIPO
Magazine. Issue 168.
Publication
2023
Identità dell’Architettura Italiana 2023
Curated by Università degli studi di Firenze
Publication
2023
CASABELLA
Magazine. Issue 947-948
Publication
2022
Area
Magazine. Issue 185. Eighteen Italian stories
Publication
2022
Pro Bauhaus
Magazine. Issue 6
Publication
2022
ELECTA
Nuove cantine italiane Casabella
Publication
2021
CASABELLA
Magazine. Issue 921. Cantina dei 5 sogni, Monforte d’Alba.
Publication
2020
Platform
Magazine. Issue 28. Best Italian Architects under 40.
Publication
2020
SuperPosition
Magazine. Issue 01. A Journey through Fondamenta Homes.
Publication
2023
ETH, IEA Lectures Series FS23, Zurigo, CH.
Fondamenta, The Economy of the Project
Lecture
2023
SEU, Nanjing, China.
The Economy of the Project
Lecture
2022
PROSPECTIVES, Bartlet Journal. Issue 02
The Algorithmic Form. Office Fondamenta.
Lecture
2021
CASABELLA FORMAZIONE
Giovani architetti italiani. Fondamenta + Supervoid,
Lecture
2021
TEDEA, IUAV, Venice, IT
Architetture. Affresco Italiano. Seminary FORM.
Lecture
2021
BARTLET B-pro, London, UK
The Algorithimc form
Lecture
Publications + lectures list
 
 
 
Press
FONDAMENTA was born in 2016

FONDAMENTA founded and run by Francesca Betarice Gagliardi and Federico Rossi was born in 2016 and is based in Milan, Italy. Strong is the belief in research and experimentation applied to construction where building is the end to which architecture must strive to become itself and technology the tool used to reach this result. FONDAMENTA questions conventions and supports contradictions. The fascination for structure and freedom from dogma represent the premises for the research; Structure traces space, organizes the program, and generates the building. Governance of architecture through technology is believed to be the key to the creation of an organism. Technology drives efficiency, precision, and control through the entire process. FONDAMENTA tries to give shape to Economy and Energy, transforming them into space and proposing a holistic concept. FONDAMENTA has created buildings of different scales and functions which include the Cantina Vinicola dei 5 Sogni completed in 2020 in Monforte d’Alba, the first SO-LE studio flagship store in Milan in 2022, a Hospitality Masterplan of landscape infrastructures in Val di Noto, the metamorphosis of an unfinished transformed into a Villa also in Val di Noto in 2023 and since 2023 is working on a series of Residential, Hospitality and Mix use buildings in Albania, all soon entering in construction. FONDAMENTA in 2025 won the Prestigious Architectural Record Design Vanguard 2025 Award. FONDAMENTA believes in synergies between the professional and academic worlds. Invited to lecture in several institutions and to publish on international platforms, between 2022 and 2023 FONDAMENTA taught as an Academic Guest at the Zurich Polytechnic ETH with the course “The Economy of the Project”
Francesca Gagliardi was born in 1987 Milan, Italy. She studied Architecture at the Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio, Switzerland gaining her diploma in 2012. She worked for Aires Mateus in Lisbon - Portugal, Ensamble Studio - Anton Garcia Abril in Madrid - Spain, and Christian Kerez, Zurich - Switzerland. In 2016, together with Federico Rossi, she co-founded FONDAMENTA.
In 2022 she was appointed as Academic Guest for 2 semesters at the ETH Zurich teaching the course The Economy of the Project. In 2023 and in 2024 she was Workshop leader at the International Workshop Porto Academy visiting Mendrisio and Barcelona.


Federico Rossi was born in 1987 Como, Italy.
He studiedHe studied Architecture at the Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio, Switzerland and at KTH Stockholm, Sweden gaining his diploma in 2012.
In 2012 co-founded OSA, Associazione Studenti Accademia Mendrisio and in 2013 he co-published the research ATLAS How we Learn to stop Worrying and Love the Tradition. From 2013 to 2015 worked at Christian Kerez office, Zurich, being Project leader for international Projects. From 2015 to 2019 he has been Assistant at the ETH Zurich at Christian Kerez Chair. In 2016, together with Francesca Gagliardi, he co-founded FONDAMENTA.
In 2018, together with H. Killer, he was responsible for the International Workshop Project Berlin: 200.000 Housing Units organized by ETH Zurich + TU Berlin, based in Berlin, Germany. In 2019, together with J. Kacani, H. Killer, G. Ledermann, he has been responsible at the ETH Zurich of the design studio STUDIO PANORAMA: 14 Views on Contemporary Architecture. In 2022 he was appointed as Academic Guest for 2 semesters at the ETH Zurich teaching the design studio The Economy of the Project. In 2023 and in 2024 he was Workshop leader at the International Workshop Porto Academy visiting Mendrisio and Barcelona.
Collaborators
Nicholas Compagnoni, Luca Redaelli, Yuki Emond, Emanuel Sanchez, Francesco Toso, Beniamin Cassetta, Nasko Stefanov, Giuliano Coppola, Matteo Vitali, Ludovica Bertini, Lorenzo Arduini, Diana Spagnulo, Francesco Pusterla (BIM Manager), Francesco Telesa (Construction Manager), Mattia Peretti (Legal).
FONDAMENTA was born in 2016

FONDAMENTA founded and run by Francesca Betarice Gagliardi and Federico Rossi was born in 2016 and is based in Milan, Italy. Strong is the belief in research and experimentation applied to construction where building is the end to which architecture must strive to become itself and technology the tool used to reach this result. FONDAMENTA questions conventions and supports contradictions. The fascination for structure and freedom from dogma represent the premises for the research; Structure traces space, organizes the program, and generates the building. Governance of architecture through technology is believed to be the key to the creation of an organism. Technology drives efficiency, precision, and control through the entire process. FONDAMENTA tries to give shape to Economy and Energy, transforming them into space and proposing a holistic concept. FONDAMENTA has created buildings of different scales and functions which include the Cantina Vinicola dei 5 Sogni completed in 2020 in Monforte d’Alba, the first SO-LE studio flagship store in Milan in 2022, a Hospitality Masterplan of landscape infrastructures in Val di Noto, the metamorphosis of an unfinished transformed into a Villa also in Val di Noto in 2023 and since 2023 is working on a series of Residential, Hospitality and Mix use buildings in Albania, all soon entering in construction. FONDAMENTA in 2025 won the Prestigious Architectural Record Design Vanguard 2025 Award. FONDAMENTA believes in synergies between the professional and academic worlds. Invited to lecture in several institutions and to publish on international platforms, between 2022 and 2023 FONDAMENTA taught as an Academic Guest at the Zurich Polytechnic ETH with the course "The Economy of the Project"

Francesca Gagliardi was born in 1987 Milan, Italy. She studied Architecture at the Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio, Switzerland gaining her diploma in 2012. She worked for Aires Mateus in Lisbon - Portugal, Ensamble Studio - Anton Garcia Abril in Madrid - Spain, and Christian Kerez, Zurich - Switzerland.
In 2016, together with Federico Rossi, she co-founded FONDAMENTA.
In 2022 she was appointed as Academic Guest for 2 semesters at the ETH Zurich teaching the course The Economy of the Project. In 2023 and in 2024 she was Workshop leader at the International Workshop Porto Academy visiting Mendrisio and Barcelona.

Federico Rossi was born in 1987 Como, Italy.
He studied Architecture at the Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio, Switzerland and at KTH Stockholm, Sweden gaining his diploma in 2012.
In 2012 co-founded OSA, Associazione Studenti Accademia Mendrisio and in 2013 he co-published the research ATLAS How we Learn to stop Worrying and Love the Tradition.
From 2013 to 2015 worked at Christian Kerez office, Zurich, being Project leader for international Projects. From 2015 to 2019 he has been Assistant at the ETH Zurich at Christian Kerez Chair.
In 2016, together with Francesca Gagliardi, he co-founded FONDAMENTA.
In 2018, together with H. Killer, he was responsible for the International Workshop Project Berlin: 200.000 Housing Units organized by ETH Zurich + TU Berlin, based in Berlin, Germany.
In 2019, together with J. Kacani, H. Killer, G. Ledermann, he has been responsible at the ETH Zurich of the design studio STUDIO PANORAMA: 14 Views on Contemporary Architecture.
In 2022 he was appointed as Academic Guest for 2 semesters at the ETH Zurich teaching the design studio The Economy of the Project.
In 2023 and in 2024 he was Workshop leader at the International Workshop Porto Academy visiting Mendrisio and Barcelona.

Collaborators
Nicholas Compagnoni, Luca Redaelli, Yuki Emond, Emanuel Sanchez, Francesco Toso, Beniamin Cassetta, Nasko Stefanov, Giuliano Coppola, Matteo Vitali, Ludovica Bertini, Lorenzo Arduini, Diana Spagnulo, Francesco Pusterla (BIM Manager), Francesco Telesa (Construction Manager), Mattia Peretti (Legal).
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