Featured in Graphis Journal #384, J. Mayer H. approaches architecture as both archaeology and artistry—an elegant dialogue between past and present. Their restoration of the House on Lake Como transforms preservation into poetic expression, revealing the quiet beauty of time itself. Every crack, surface, and hue tells a story of continuity and care, where innovation enhances heritage without erasing it.

Written by Maxim Sorokopud

The preservation efforts that went into the House on Lake Como restoration are almost as remarkable as the original structure. This eighteenth-century building went without a major renovation in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. In the twenty-first century, an update was finally commissioned. J. Mayer H., the architecture firm awarded the project, respected the building in ways that require detailed analysis to truly appreciate.

For instance, instead of covering up signs of the house’s age, such as cracks in the walls, the renovators chose not only to keep them visible but also to decorate these surfaces with a glossy finish, making these wrinkles more distinguished.

Naturally, some new materials had to be added to the House on Lake Como. Yet in many instances, these new additions blend into the character of the structure. One example is the marble found in the bathroom, which comprises the flooring and the square sink. Identifying these features as recent additions is somewhat easy, but they are also perfectly in keeping with the materials that would have originally been used on houses of this era. In time, usage will weather this material, making it harder to discern as a new addition.

The exterior received much the same treatment as the interior. The facade’s original overall color was retained, while the window frames were adjusted, with new awnings and shutters added. The turquoise green used for these shutters reinforces the building’s historic integration with the surroundings, lying between the shades of the lake and the surrounding wildlife. The green stone tiling added to the floor of the adjoining pool also matches these awnings, giving the overall exterior a subtle cohesion.

In an area such as Lake Como, which is dotted with numerous luxury villas, it takes something truly special to stand out. Anyone who has worked on the House on Lake Como over the last three hundred years has undoubtedly contributed to the creation of an extraordinary structure. Part of what makes the House on Lake Como so appealing is the fact that it is essentially a celebration of the past, taking those who are lucky enough to experience it into history.

Bio

J. Mayer H. und Partner Architekten mbB considers the relationship between the human body, technology, and nature to be a key consideration in its design work. The detailed preservation of the House on Lake Como showcases how to do this in a way where technology is muted in favor of highlighting heritage.

https://jmayerh.de

Read more creative stories in Graphis Journal #384.