When Materia Prima Studio set out to design a family residence on a disused 19th‑century railbed, they didn’t just want a house that fit the site—they wanted one that turned the idea of a home completely upside down. The result is a striking dwelling that borrows the rhythm of the old tracks, flips the conventional floor plan, and lets nature reclaim the roof.
Concept & Inspiration
The architects began by studying the forgotten railway that once sliced through the landscape. Rather than erasing its trace, they let the linear geometry of the old railbed dictate the building’s orientation. By rotating the typical layout 180 degrees, the living spaces sit where a basement would normally be, while the bedrooms occupy the upper volume, giving the impression that the house has been turned on its head.
Design Execution
Inverted Layout
Ground‑level rooms—kitchen, dining, and lounge—are carved into the excavated railbed, providing cool, earth‑sheltered spaces that stay temperate year‑round. Upstairs, the private chambers enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding canopy, accessed via a slender stair that feels like a bridge over the old tracks.
Planted Roof
The roof isn’t just a protective shell; it’s a layered garden of native grasses and low‑maintenance sedums. This green blanket not only insulates the interior but also absorbs rainwater, reduces runoff, and creates a habitat for pollinators, turning the building’s crown into a living extension of the forest.
Timber Pavilion
Projecting from the façade, a lightweight timber pavilion juts out over the treetops. Its open‑sided design offers a shaded lounge where the family can sip coffee while watching birds flit between branches—a quiet reminder that the house is as much about the landscape as it is about shelter.
Materials & Sustainability
Materia Prima chose locally sourced timber for the structural frame and cladding, reducing transport emissions and supporting regional craftsmen. The excavated railbed was reused as foundation fill, minimizing waste. High‑performance glazing and passive shading strategies keep energy demand low, while the planted roof contributes to the home’s overall thermal mass.
The Result
Walking through the house feels like moving through a sequence of discoveries: the cool, grounded entry gives way to airy, light‑filled bedrooms, and finally to the treetop pavilion where the boundary between inside and outside blurs. The project shows how a respectful nod to history can inspire a forward‑thinking, environmentally responsive home.
“We didn’t just invert the floor plan; we inverted the relationship between building and site, letting the landscape dictate the architecture.”
