A little house set into the rock face of a cave (Grotta in Italian) with a panoramic view over Scicli in the shade of an ancient carob tree (Carrubo). The dwelling is a small hideaway built into the rock walls of a cave, fully incorporated into the hill – on which the church of Saint Matthew is perched – in the baroque city of Scicli. The project echoes the design philosophy of designer Margherita Rui and her husband, Alessandro. Grotta e Carrubo is a place that reflects its setting: the manifestation of a personal reconnect with the local old-fashioned way of doing things, whereby an aesthetic that embraces imperfection takes us back to a slow, time-honoured beauty. From sourcing craftsmen to defining the material palette, the couple’s every decision has been made with the aim of engaging the best local tradespeople.
With three architect friends, they then turned their attention to the interior and outdoor design - with the help of Cristiano Urban and Rachele Sebellin - and lighting design (Eleonora Grigoletto). Inside the house – built from white Modica stone, natural lime and timber from the region’s chestnut trees – every detail has been designed through a slow and patient research process aimed at identifying the most suitable solutions sympathetic to the original materials. Margherita has designed and produced the project’s homewares, like fabrics in conjunction with Erimiti and the pendant light with Il Fanale, two companies from the Veneto region who promote custom design and a focus on the local.
Even the lava stone and handmade terracotta project, Alfabeto developed with Ninefifty was conceived right here, spawned by the desire to produce tiles punctuated by pattern, reminiscent of Caltagirone’s famous staircase, but with a contemporary twist. For this house, the designer has also come up with a collection of ceramic tableware. The cushions have been hand embroidered with a nod to local nature in their style elements; olive twig baskets have been handwoven to a custom design in Caltagirone; the Liberta handblown borosilicate glass carafes are one of Margherita’s designs for Ichendorf.
A place that can be regarded as a collection of designs and objects all speaking the same language, a medley of purity and corrosion, a modern aesthetic and tactile vibrancy, light and colour;. The house is spread over five levels, from the entry decorated with an iron pergola and outdoor pots – both custom designed by the owner – up to the roof sun terrace affording a view over the city and the surrounding hills. Inside, the house comprises a lounge with split-level built-in sofas sporting soft, sculptural lines, leading to the kitchen – decorated with ceramic tiles channelling the local tradition – and bathroom, both making a feature of antique feeding troughs.
The top floor houses a double bedroom and a small mezzanine. Outside the kitchen, a staircase with risers decorated with Ninefifty’s Alfabeto handmade terracotta tiles leads to the first terrace, home to an alfresco dining room furnished with a large lava stone table. Here, from the shade of a large carob tree, you can take in a glorious view over the surrounding neighbourhoods framed by the graphic lines of an iron railing, custom designed by the owner and crafted by an old local blacksmith. Also sharing this outdoor space are a plunge pool built into the rock and a washbasin set into a generous softly shaped block. From here, stairs climb to two more levels, ending on the roof sun terrace.
Team:
Concept, product and interior design: Margherita Rui
Architectural project development: Arch. Cristiano Urban, Arch. Rachele Sebellin
Lighting design: Arch. Eleonora Grigoletto
Landscape design: Arch. Alessio Bracchitta
Photography: Giovanni Nardi, Giulio Ghirardi
Material Used:
1. Facade cladding: Local stone - Modica stone
2. Flooring: Natural lime (for the interior), Modica stone (for the outdoor)
3. 950 ninefifty:
Alfabeto, glazed hand-made terracotta tiles collection designed by Margherita Rui
Giare, collection of outdoor vases designed by Margherita Rui
Fiasche, collection of ceramic ware designed by Margherita Rui
Fangotti, collection of ceramic tableware designed by Margherita Rui
Graffo, outdoor table with ninefifty lava stone tops designed by Margherita Rui
4. Erimiti: Matrice, outdoor fabric designed by Margherita Rui
5. Il Fanale: Cifra, pendant lamp designed by Margherita Rui
6. Ichendorf: Liberta, collection of glasses and cups designed by Margherita Rui
7. Love For: Collection of glasses and cutting board designed by Margherita Rui
8. Margherita has designed all the project’s homewares such as: front pergola, railing, kitchen, cushions and baskets. Cushions are embroidered by hand by a local embroiderer to a design by Margherita Rui. Kitchen in chestnut wood is carved by a local carpenter to a design by Margherita Rui and Cristiano Urban. In the bathroom chestnut wood mirror and floating shelves are made by a local carpenter to a design by Margherita Rui. In the living room ninefifty ceramic ware and olive wood basket are made by a craftsman from Caltagirone and designed by Margherita Rui.
