Masseria Verbumcaudo

Type	Historic building
Intervention	Roof restoration
Location	Polizzi Generosa, Italy
Roof insulation	Isotec by Brianza Plastica – 80 mm thick
Roof cladding	Double-curved tiles and reclaimed tiles

The project

Nestled in the Madonie mountains near Polizzi Generosa, in the province of Palermo, stands Masseria Verbumcaudo. A stunning example of 16th-century Sicilian feudal architecture, this historic estate was confiscated from organised crime and is now the focus of an ambitious regeneration project funded by the PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan). The initiative involves repurposing the spaces to host agricultural activities and educational workshops for schools and local youth, as well as programmes to integrate vulnerable individuals into the workforce and community. The building’s roof was outdated, lacked adequate insulation, and was unsuitable for a restoration project aimed at improving energy efficiency, indoor comfort and durability.

The intervention

To achieve high energy efficiency of the roof, the design team selected Brianza Plastica’s Isotec System with a thickness of 80 mm, covering a total area of over 1,100 sqm. A new roof assembly was adopted, consisting of timber joists, wooden boarding and the Elytex-N breathable waterproof membrane. The Isotec thermal insulation panels were then installed directly over this surface using a completely dry-fix method with specialised wood screws. The roof covering, anchored perfectly to the metal stiffeners of the Isotec panels, combines double-curved channel tiles with reclaimed tiles, preserving the traditional style of Sicilian farmhouses. Because the System is lightweight and easy to handle, it proved ideal for the restoration of a historic building, as it does not place additional loads on ancient structures. It also made it possible to meet the requirements for an efficient intervention that was fully compatible with the building’s constraints, allowing the reuse of existing tiles and preserving the farmhouse’s original aesthetic.

The result

The use of the Isotec System enabled the roof to achieve optimal thermal performance, promoting stable indoor thermo-hygrometric conditions through natural ventilation. Its lightweight design, ease of handling at height and rapid installation helped streamline site operations. Furthermore, its universal compatibility simplified the assembly of the roof structure, both in relation to the timber framework and the traditional roof covering, which combines new and reclaimed tiles, thereby making a significant contribution to preserving the farmhouse’s historic character.

Isotec

Renovation Roof