Houses with modern architecture built in Italy in an area at high seismic risk

Although more and more people are learning about modern wood construction techniques, industrial wood and houses on wooden structure, there are still the unsuspecting or less informed who believe that these houses are cheap improvisations made of wooden planks, without resistance, susceptible to fire, earthquakes or rats. Our aim is to try to convince as many readers as possible of the advantages of wooden houses, using the experience of Romanian specialists recognised in Europe for the quality constructions they do in countries with a tradition of such works. This article will focus on two houses out of five, built by the company Litarh in Monte San Giusto, Italy, in a recognised seismic zone.

The Marche region, a recognised seismic zone in Italy

Marche Region is located in central-eastern Italy and includes the provinces of Ancona, Pesaro and Urbino, Macerata, Fermo and Ascoli Piceno. The area is known for the quality footwear made here and for its oak furniture (rovere artegianale) which is also appreciated by the British royal family.

Near this area, in 2016, there was a series of earthquakes that brought down several villages. Among the victims then in Norcia and Amatrice were Romanians. The quake was also felt intensely across the Marche region, with many homes heavily damaged.

In this area, Bruno, an architect by profession, decided to build a complex of houses with modern architecture.

Complex of 5 houses in Monte San Giusto

Bruno met Vlad Liteanu from Litarh in 2007 on one of the construction sites in Italy where the company was building a house. He liked the serious and professional way Vlad handled the work, the speed of construction, the solidity of the house and the idea of using wooden structures for the house, lighter than conventional building materials. He wanted such a house and discussions began. The first offer was made back in 2008. Unfortunately, the timing was not yet right for Bruno.

More than 8 years passed before the topic was taken up again. The architectural design of the entire complex was done by Bruno, and the structural design was calculated by an Italian firm specialising in construction for seismic risk areas. For safety, the main beams (glulam beams) were 200 mm wide and 400-500 mm high, and the walls were stiffened with 22 mm OSB on the outside and 18 mm on the inside. Normally 12/15 mm OSB is used for both the interior and exterior. For the rafters, visible from the inside, 100×240 beams of GL24H (glulam) were used.

Ensuring the strength of the structure was also necessary due to the modern architecture of the houses. They were built on a hill with a superb view of the Adriatic Sea in the distance. Due to the settlement, the first level, built of concrete, becomes the basement when viewed from the opposite side. On this first, habitable level, two floors were built on wooden structure. The levels are atypical, the lower one being narrower than the upper one. The project is proof that modern design can be achieved even though it is built in a seismic zone. The solid structure allows this and provides the necessary strength.

Prefabrication of walls shortened construction time on site

Much of the construction elements were made in Valea Moldovei factory. The degree of prefabrication has been advanced, with walls also 8-10 m long being assembled. However, the wall lacked windows which were installed in Italy by local specialists.

The thermal insulation was made, both inside the walls and outside, with basaltic wool. Some of the basaltic insulation panels for the facade were also installed at the factory. The thick, good quality insulation and the correct installation of the anti-vapor membrane has resulted in highly energy efficient houses.

The laminated beams were also processed and finished in the factory. For the interior a white washed finishThe exterior areas have been stained in warm walnut, like the wood used for the exterior cladding, in a pleasant contrast to the white colour of the walls.

Fast construction on site completed with a team of only 3 Litarh carpenters

Even though the terrain was sloping and the houses very close together, the walls could be assembled quickly and accurately. Construction on site of the two houses took 2 months, one month for each house, all done by just 3 carpenters. The advanced pre-fabrication of the walls also had a side-effect that was much appreciated by the owner - a much cleaner building site, with very little waste resulting from the construction.

The roof, with the beams visible on the inside and the ceiling clad with wood, was made on site. Basaltic wool insulation, OSB board and sheet metal cladding was installed on the outside. The straight roof, supported on rafters and sloping slightly backwards, gives the house a semi-detached appearance.

The houses have terraces on both the front and the back, with the possibility of separate access to the apartments on the levels. Access is via a staircase leading directly up to the terrace. They are small but interesting, bright apartments with lots of exposed wood despite their modern design.

The other 3 houses in the complex are next

The original project comprises 5 houses, 3 at the front and 2 more at the back, together forming an L-shaped complex. Only two of them have been built and the others will be continued when investors are found for them. As the pandemic has convinced many to build or invest in houses, work will soon resume on completing the project.

Timber-framed houses are more resistant to earthquakes because they are lighter. The seismic force, which is directly proportional to the weight of the house, is lower in these houses, reducing the risk of them falling down considerably. Even if small damage occurs after an earthquake, it does not endanger the integrity of the building and can be repaired in a timely manner. Another advantage of these houses, which is very important for small plots and small houses, is the reduced thickness of the walls compared to concrete or brick walls, thus gaining additional useful living space.

As you can see, timber frame houses have a lot of advantages. Bruno, an Italian architect with a great knowledge of building, chose this construction system for his house in a recognised seismic zone. Perhaps we should give more credit to the connoisseurs and, above all, do our research.