The architecture of the Nizza Paradise Residence, by architect Mino Caggiula, a residential complex in Lugano Paradiso, was dictated by its surroundings.
This was one of the most challenging projects, shaped as much by the site’s breathtaking natural setting as by its intricate topography and the sheer scale of the undertaking.
The layout and volumes were guided by the presence of Guidino Park, the forest and its intersecting trails, Monte San Salvatore, and the lake view. At the core of the design is a vision: the striking similarity between the site’s contour lines and the abstract silhouette of a reclining woman.
This form conveys both a sense of calm, enhanced by the softness of the location, and of strength, articulated through sharp, precise lines that materialize into architecture. The structure itself, shaped by the natural slope of the land, appears to dissolve as it rises.
The geometries of the façade create highly specific perspectives, each one opening onto a distinct view of the landscape. The only way to take in all of these perspectives simultaneously is from above, as if in flight. Inside, the building unfolds in a fluid geometric continuity, designed to follow the contours of the land in a search for a sequence of shapes and patterns that elevate the interplay between light and space, and between the structure and its surrounding vegetation, creating a new, delicate harmony.

In the spa, circular portholes filter the light into shifting patterns of shadow and glow. The soft strains of music merge with the gentle sound of water, playing against surfaces clad in materials that shimmer and blend with the surrounding environment.
This creates a dual perspective: from the outside, the building integrates into the forest and natural setting; from within, it frames views of Lugano, its basin, and the outlines of the lake’s mirrored surface. Pedestrian pathways weave through the residence, emphasizing the interplay of solid and void within the structure. A green wall runs along its edge, connecting the complex to the adjacent Guidino Park, which acts as a natural stage for the architecture.
The path culminates at a cantilevered platform, which extends over a reflective pool nestled in the woods and houses the residents’ spa. In this way, the natural environment surrounding the complex becomes the focal point of a larger system, in which the building assumes different roles—including one of heightened perception.