Vigna Maggiore / Orma Architettura

Architects: Orma Architettura
Year: 2019
Photographs: Julien Kerdraon
Structural Engineer: ISB – Ingénierie
City: Olmeto
Country: France

Vigna Maggiore, a project by Orma Architettura in Olmeto, Southern Corsica, is set on a hillside overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and Propriano. Once farmland, the site inspired a design that captures the landscape using centenarian trees and ochre-colored granitic tuff. Unique site-made concrete was developed from this tuff, creating thick, solid walls that blend with the environment. Brass frames and gates were added to complement the materiality, designed to age naturally. Construction involved careful on-site testing of materials, with concrete mixed on-site to minimize transportation impact. The process required a special truck to refine the aggregate and pour the concrete in layers, ensuring precision and sustainability.

The project is situated in Olmeto, Southern Corsica, on a hillside overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and the town of Propriano, across the Valinco Gulf. Once used for farming, the land was known for its vineyards and olive trees, which eventually inspired the name “Vigna Maggiore.” The client gave an open brief but aimed to define a space within the large property. The design, therefore, focused on creating an enclave that captures a portion of the landscape. The site’s unique characteristics, including centuries-old trees, the sea view, and the earthy granitic tuff, heavily influenced the project. This ochre-colored tuff became the primary material for the design.

The project emerges from the earth using concrete sourced directly from the site. The thickness and solidity of the material shape the design. Light and shadow interact with the structure, revealing each block and guiding the user through its functions. As the material is excavated, the solid form of the building takes shape, with a light-filled passage framing views of the sea and the surrounding landscape.

The concept aimed to recreate the ground and reinterpret the modern cave. Since rammed earth, typically used in spas, was not suitable, a unique concrete material was developed directly from the site. After numerous tests, the final concrete retained the earthy qualities of rammed earth while providing the structural strength of concrete. The 40 cm thick walls offer thermal comfort through their mass, enhancing the building’s energy efficiency.

Brass was chosen for the opening frames and gates to harmonize with the earthy tones of the site-made concrete, providing a counterbalance to its mineral quality. As it ages, the brass will develop a patina, interacting with the walls in a dynamic way over time.

The materials used included the unique site-made concrete, reinforced concrete, and brass for the opening frames. Ground tests were conducted to assess the quality of the excavated tuff. Instead of using a drum, cement was brought directly to the site. A specialized truck analyzed the aggregate’s granulometry in real-time, removing unsuitable sizes and checking density. Afterward, the concrete was mixed in the same truck and poured as a very dry mix into the wall forms. The concrete was rammed layer by layer, except where reinforcements were required. The construction process was lengthy and demanding, requiring meticulous attention to detail. However, the on-site production minimized transportation impact, and the on-site teams were exceptional.