Botta designed this house shortly after graduating in 1971 for close friends Carlo and Leontina Bianchi. This was Botta's second project for the couple; the first was the refurbishing of a flat for them in the village of Genestrerio, Switzerland. The brief for the residence at Riva San Vitale was similar in that a low budget home was required for a couple with two children. This time however, Botta's thoughts were of designing a home that seemed essentially to begin in the roof.