Casa Lucciola Renovation: Converted Barn Holiday Home in Corippo, Switzerland

Nestled in the Italian-speaking region of southern Switzerland, in the tiny municipality of Corippo, the Casa Lucciola Renovation by Rafael Schmid Architekten stands out as a sensitive and practical conversion of a 19th-century barn into a compact holiday home. Originally built in 1850 as an animal barn, the structure had endured a number of poorly considered alterations over the years. The renovation carefully restores and preserves the barn’s stone exterior while introducing a warm, modern interior defined by white surfaces and natural wood.

Stone exterior of Casa Lucciola in Corippo, Switzerland — Stone exterior of the barns has been carefully preserved and improved

The design intention was to preserve the building’s rural character while making it comfortable and functional for today’s short-stay living. Inside, the palette is deliberately minimal: white surfaces combine with a single warm timber tone used for built-in furniture and storage. This restrained approach makes the compact rooms feel calm and airy and highlights the original stone shell of the house.

Historic stone walls of the converted animal barn — Gorgeous stone walls of the animal barns built in 1850 still stand proudly as they hold a new holiday home

Space planning was a key challenge. The architects resolved it with a series of custom, multifunctional wooden elements that adapt to different needs as you move through the house. Box-like wooden steps provide hidden storage and act as vertical circulation. Continuous benches, cabinets and a compact dining table are crafted in the same timber, creating an integrated, monochrome backdrop that reads as both furniture and architectural lining. The result is a cohesive interior where every element serves a clear purpose and clutter is minimized.

Box-styled wooden steps and built-in cabinets maximize storage — Box-styled steps and a series of wooden cabinets maximize space inside the small holiday home in Switzerland

The layout is compact but efficiently organized. On the ground floor of each barn is the shared living space—kitchen, dining and seating—designed to open toward views of the surrounding hillside. Upper levels accommodate bedrooms and bathrooms, where small but well-considered sleeping spaces make the most of the available volume. Natural light is welcomed through carefully placed openings, and the neutral interior tones amplify this brightness while maintaining a restful atmosphere.

Upper levels of the holiday home appear to merge with the landscape — Upper levels of the holiday home blend into the landscape seamlessly

Small details reinforce the home’s personality: the white-painted walls and ceilings provide a crisp contrast to the warm timber joinery, while the natural stone exterior anchors the renovation in its historic context. In bathrooms and other wet areas, modest splashes of color appear through floor tiles or fittings, adding a lively counterpoint without overwhelming the overall calm of the interior.

Bathroom with colorful floor tiles in Casa Lucciola — Bathroom inside the vacation home in Switzerland feels modern and has a splash of color thanks to floor tiles

The home is fully self-sustaining. The electricity is generated through solar panels and water is directly taken from a fresh spring that flows next to the houses. The design supports a modern lifestyle in a secluded location while encouraging engagement with the surrounding nature.

Wood and white living area filled with natural light — Wood and white living area of the converted barn is filled with natural light

The Casa Lucciola Renovation demonstrates how thoughtful conservation and contemporary design can coexist. By retaining the stone envelope and simplifying the interior language to light and timber, the architects created a small but highly usable holiday home that feels both rooted in its past and comfortable for present-day use. Its intelligent use of built-in furniture and multifunctional elements offers practical lessons for anyone working with compact spaces, while its sustainable systems emphasize low-impact living in a sensitive alpine setting.