The Ticino-based firm Inches Geleta Architetti recently completed the expansion of Casa Andina-Schneider, a one-story addition that has become an independent dwelling. This addition views the previously existing structure as a hard, solid base that remains unchanged. Only the roof is removed to accommodate the new volume. This new section, in contrast, is designed as a light and transparent body, creating an intriguing interplay between the supporting structure and the internal spatial organization.

The four IPE 400 beams rest on eight HE 180 pillars positioned asymmetrically along the perimeter, determining the dimensions of the different rooms in the house. At the center of the square formed by the beam intersections is a circular skylight that lends a poetic touch to a technical and pragmatic solution. Partitions and furnishings align with this structural framework, concentrating services and utility areas near the entrance to free up the bedroom and the generous living room, which are spacious yet equipped with practical "service blocks," as the designers describe them. These blocks, rather than serving static purposes, address a "spatial modulation" that allows for varied and flexible uses.

These design choices, along with the arrangement of built-in furnishings, lend the architecture a great clarity in the relationship between the parts, both in the physical connections between the structure, shell, and partitions, and in the use of spaces. The white of the paint, drywall, and cabinet fronts dominates the interiors and acts as a backdrop for the play of light and shadow created by the positioning of the shading elements. In contrast, the bathroom is finished with dark tiles, connected to the other rooms through a light gray concrete floor.

The glass walls are screened by adjustable shading elements operated by arms hinged at the midpoint of the openings. These movable yet well-integrated devices contribute to defining the appearance of the façades, along with the perimeter gutter sheet, the slender metal framework, and the parapets.