Even the most successful renovation projects transforming dark, dingy basements into livable spaces tend to feel a little dim and claustrophobic. But when your home is located in a densely developed environment where above-ground additions aren’t possible, sometimes you simply have to make do. Some homeowners might take a step as radical as lifting their entire home to create a brighter, more spacious daylight basement underneath – but how often do you hear of people digging out the earth around their basements instead"

A large round cutout in the garden wall now acts as the home’s new entrance, beckoning visitors into the light-filled courtyard where Larotonda has installed stepping stones, volcanic rock, and grasses designed to offer proper drainage when it rains. From the driveway looking in, you see an interesting arrangement of diagonal walls sloping toward the lawn above. From the lawn, these walls stick up several feet above grade, looking almost like the prow of a ship.
Inside, the newly renovated basement is suddenly flooded with daylight. The concrete floors were darkened and polished for a slate-like effect, and the interior walls are made of three layers of solid fir stained with green impregnating paints for a sheer, washed look. Together, these colors are meant to evoke the tones of the surrounding mountain landscape. The circular motif is also drawn inside, repeated with cutouts in the wood walls and the shape of the bathroom mirror.
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