Architecture studio Mecozzi Verdini has completed a remarkable addition to a 1960s villa in Italy's Marche region, connecting the original home to a new concrete-framed annexe through an elevated red steel walkway. The project, called Annesso Rosso (Red Annexe), transforms the rear of the property in the village of Loretto by replacing a cluster of abandoned agricultural sheds with a contemporary living space that celebrates both tradition and modern design.
The concrete annexe takes full advantage of its previously neglected site, which offers stunning views across the rolling hills of the Marche region. The new structure features a fully glazed living and dining area topped by an expansive patio. This outdoor space extends into the signature elevated walkway that connects directly to the existing villa's first floor, while a small spiral staircase provides access down to the garden and the annexe itself.
The most striking feature of the project is its bold use of color. All the steel elements – including window frames, balustrades, the walkway, and spiral stair – are painted in the same deep shade of red. According to Giovanni Mecozzi, co-founder of Mecozzi Verdini, this distinctive color choice was deliberate, intended to "highlight the contemporary gesture within a rural context."
"The core concept of the project was to transform the rear of the villa into a space that harmoniously merges authentic rural life with a contemporary vision of living," Mecozzi explained. He emphasized that the red steel bridge and terrace serve multiple purposes beyond mere functionality. "Beyond its functional role, it acts as a symbolic bridge between generations, traditions, and modern living, creating a space for social interaction, contemplation, and visual connection with the surrounding landscape."
The annexe's design is organized around a square concrete grid system that divides the structure into distinct quadrants. In addition to the fully glazed living space, the building houses a glazed kitchen and a bathroom that is externally wrapped in larch planks. The kitchen connects seamlessly to the outdoors through sliding glass doors that open onto a paved dining patio, which is sheltered by reed canopies inserted into two quadrants of the concrete frame.
Mecozzi Verdini describes the overall aesthetic of Annesso Rosso as "brutalist," with the concrete structure deliberately left exposed throughout the interior. The design features metal sheet ceilings in the internal spaces and terrazzo floors that complement the raw concrete walls. "Materials were chosen to balance robustness and lightness, reflecting both local tradition and contemporary living," Mecozzi noted.
The project represents a thoughtful approach to architectural expansion that respects the existing structure while making a bold contemporary statement. As Mecozzi explained, the design "exemplifies integration between architecture, landscape, and memory, transforming the villa's former utilitarian spaces into a contemporary living experience that celebrates both tradition and modernity."
The Annesso Rosso project joins a growing trend of Italian architectural renovations that blend historical elements with modern interventions. Other recent examples include Studio Bressan's extension of a traditional stone farmhouse with a glazed garden room, and StudioTamat's overhaul of a 1960s villa that combined modernist influences with decorative elements including floral wallpapers and playful geometric shapes.
The photography for the project was completed by Simone Bossi and Andy Massaccesi, capturing both the dramatic architectural intervention and its integration with the surrounding landscape. The images showcase how the red steel elements create a visual dialogue between the old and new structures while framing views of the picturesque Marche countryside.
