Translating the conceptual dimension of art into a built project that leaves a mark on the landscape in a measured and integrated way this was the central challenge of Blade, a residential complex in Canobbio, Switzerland. Mino Caggiula drew inspiration from the words of the renowned American sculptor and land artist Richard Serra, who stated, "I consider space to be a material. I attempt to use sculptural form to make space distinct." Serra’s works, composed of massive sheets of steel, establish multiple interactions with space and with those who pass through them, creating a physical and material presence that transforms the perception of their surroundings.
Similarly, Caggiula sought to etch the hillside terrain with curved corten steel ‘blades’, positioned to interrupt the view of the forest to the south while instead directing the gaze toward Lake Lugano.
From the scale of the landscape to that of architecture and interior design, these blades are the fulcrum of the project. Theirsweeping curvature, with a radius of 220 meters, was precisely calculated so that the deviation from a perfect arc remains less than 1 millimeter per linear meter, ensuring the internal spaces remain functional and easily furnished. A secondary system of blades divides the interior spaces of the units, creating varying layouts for the villas.
I consider space to be a material. I attempt to use sculptural form to make space distinct.
Richard Serra
The complex is partially embedded into the sloping terrain, allowing for maximum integration with its surroundings. Its two-level configuration generates expansive terraces that function as private hanging gardens. The concept is that the roof of the lower unit becomes the garden of the upper one.
The corten steel blades emerge from the landscape, their southern-facing surfaces clad in climbing jasmine to blend with the hedges that separate the gardens. Greenery is used as an element that integrates and completes the architecture: horizontally and vertically, it serves both as a natural partition ensuring privacy between residences and as a connection to the surrounding environment. Large glass walls reinforce the dialogue between architecture and nature, reflecting the surrounding landscape and amplifying its presence within the spaces.