Punta Bianca is the ideal Sicilian summer getaway, formed by magnificent coastal geophysical formations and a 19th-century relic. The intervention embraces this context with a minimal approach, allowing the environment and the historic customs house remnant to speak for themselves. The glass upper addition, set on a metal structure that rests atop the exposed stone walls, together with its suspended floors and cables, transforms the ruin into a peaceful pause: a panoramic viewpoint and a place to refresh.
Project Name: Punta Bianca Suspended
Studio Name: George Genovezos Architecture Studio
Location: Agrigento, Italy
Year: 2025
Team: George Genovezos
The challenge of bringing back the missing middle floor while protecting the entire building with some kind of roofing, without crumping up the limited space with support structure, led to the suspended concept.
The double height entrance space functions both as a reception area and a wine cellar, where visitors can taste and buy local wines. Wine bottles are displayed on steel cable racks, letting the stonework be seen. Every new element, along with the lighting, excluding the furniture, is suspended from above via steel cables, maintaining a sense of lightness and respect for the original structure.
The interior central wall makes circulation difficult, so four new openings mirroring the exterior windows are introduced, creating visual and spatial continuity across the ground floor and the suspended level above. A new lightweight, perforated metal staircase connects all three levels, replacing the old, narrow stone one.
On the one side of the stairs, a bar is placed with direct access to the outdoor space, through a new door (previously window). On the other side there is a storage room along with restrooms.
On the middle level there is some exhibition spaces, while a lightweight metal “walkway” extending into the entrance space is introduced, inviting visitors to take a look around and observe the building’s interior together with the sea views from the west windows, accompanied by the light coming from the glass above.
On the top level, the glass “box” proposes a captivating experience of the surrounding nature reserve environment, as well as unhindered views to the mediterranean. Its structure is constructed with glass columns and beams to enhance even more the sense of transparency.
The existing patio around the building is left with no interventions as it already serves its purpose of providing a transition and a place for relaxation. Extending beyond it doesn’t make sense, since the unique rock formations take priority in terms of respect and preservation.
All the outer windows and doors are fitted with glass panels to protect the overall structure from the elements.
The main metal structural elements, along with the new opening’s framing and the additional walls and platforms are corten-finished to match the roughness and weathered identity of the ruin.
