The Eku Perfektion Wood HPS systems for minimal aluminium-wooden windows and Eku Woodart TT AS for aluminium-wooden lift and slide windows were chosen for the renovation of a three-storey single-family villa located on the promontory of Ansedonia (GR). Massimo Spano, founding member together with Maurizio Bellardini of M.M., tells us about the speech. Windows and doors of Rome.
Eku solutions were used for a major renovation of an elegant single-family villa in Ansedonia (Grosseto).
We are in a renowned tourist resort on the Tyrrhenian coast: Ansedonia is in fact located on the promontory of the same name on the south-eastern edge of the municipal territory of Orbetello, near the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Cosa.
«It is a prestigious residential area» explains Massimo Spano. «Here there are the villas of various showbiz personalities and some politicians. The building is arranged on three levels. You enter it from the ground floor which is underground on the street side, but in reality on the other side it is terraced.
Only on the side facing the sea are the three floors visible, while on the entrance side only two floors can be seen. All set in a beautiful environmental context.”
A restricted area to avoid unregulated construction
Just to protect the aesthetics of this context the area is protected, so the Municipality requires that the finishes and interventions fit harmoniously into the surrounding environment and are consistent for all properties: on the outside only finishes with certain types are possible of local bricks or stones, only certain types of tiles are permitted for roofs, etc.
«Not only the external finishes, but also the interior has been completely renovated, from new furnishings to the refurbishment of the systems, from the complete replacement of the windows and doors to the repositioning of some rooms. The works lasted about 14 months.”
The replacement of windows with Eku Systems
All the existing timber windows and doors were replaced. The architect and owner’s request was to maintain the warmth and softness of wood inside the villa.
«From this point of view» says Massimo Spano, «the best choice that could be made was to use the Eku Perfektion Wood HPS system, an aluminium-wood with a minimal design – obtained by reducing the visible profile of the door to the minimum possible (73 mm) and using concealed hardware with 16 mm groove – and with high thermal insulation performance.
For installation we always follow the instructions of the PosaClima system. In this case in particular we studied a counter frame that would allow us to minimize the view of the window with respect to the window hole, both externally and internally.
We made sure that in the depth of the interior frame extension there was only the window frame, without further additions, architraves or anything else, in order to obtain an eye-catching picture effect that enhances the glass part and the extraordinary external panorama.
This concerns the casement windows, where a mosquito net and shutters, also in aluminium, were also installed.”
Two large windows with the Eku Woodart TT AS system
«On the ground floor where there is the living area and on the first floor where there are the bedrooms and bathrooms» continues Massimo Spano, «we have installed two large lift-and-slide doors that face downhill, giving a breathtaking view.
The system used is the Eku Woodart TT AS, an aluminium-wood solution ideal for separating large spaces with elegance and practicality.
Also in this case we integrated the frame into the window hole and concealed the threshold into the floor. An easy solution to create in the living area, a little more complicated on the first floor because there were no right gradients on the terraces.
In the living area, therefore, there are these four windows, two above and two below, 4.5 meters each, separated by an 80 cm transom, which offer a wonderful view and excellent natural lighting.
On the ground floor, given that the external patio is covered and furnished, and the lift&slide threshold is flush with the stone floor, when the window is opened a perfect continuity is created between the external and internal areas, allowing you to appreciate the beautiful season and the natural context in which the villa is located”.
Finishes and performance of windows and doors
The internal finish is chestnut-coloured oak while the outside is matt white Ral 9010. «Since the external walls have been finished with a particular local whitish stone, the white of the windows fits in well» underlines Massimo Spano.
From a performance point of view, casements windows reach a Uw thermal transmittance of 1.77 W/m2K, while lift and slide windows reach a transmittance of 1.20 W/m2K.
Values to which the choice of good glass contributed: Planitherm Clear by Saint Gobain Glass was used, a low-emissivity glass which ensures a good reduction in the solar g factor while maintaining a high transmission of natural light, furthermore it has a very neutral color which guarantees high color rendering.
As regards noise reduction, the value stands at 34 dB. «There were no particular requests from this point of view» explains Massimo Spano, «because the villa is located in an area of absolute tranquility; furthermore, there is a villa every 70 – 80 meters, with its own park around it. In short, a true oasis of peace.”
