Carlo Battisti

Can a building produce more energy than it consumes, exclusively from renewable sources? Certainly! This is demonstrated by Casa SN (named after its owners Sara and Nicola Berlanda) which has recently become the first building in Europe—and Italy—to be certified under the Zero Energy standard of the International Living Future Institute (ILFI). Casa SN is a single-family house located in…

“Toxic chemicals threaten human health and compromise the resilience of our ecosystems,” said Amanda Sturgeon, CEO, of the International Living Future Institute, during last week’s launch event of the Declare EU label in South Tyrol, Italy. “Having better information will allow manufacturers, architects and designers to make the best decisions possible.” The Declare launch event was one of a series…

In a prehistoric ravine carved out by a Mediterranean river lies the city of Matera, a unique place where the lines distinguishing the environment from the built environment have faded with the patina of time. The former invades the latter, natural caves become dwellings, and the rock-hewn dwellings become natural in a steady osmotic relationship that continues today. This past…

Casa SN House (the initial letters of the two owners Sara and Nicola Berlanda) is Italy’s first Living Building Challenge registered project.  The home will be built in Trento, Italy close to the gorgeous Lake Garda. The site was a former greenhouse, and thus the owners will demolish the current structure and work to remediate the land (concrete basements, small…