The renovation project of this country house, nestled among the centuries-old pines and olive trees of the Hyblaean Hills, was born from the desire to revive a place tied to childhood memories but abandoned for years.

The original architecture, dating back to the early 90s, is characterized by clean lines, pitched roofs, and curved volumes that integrate organically and functionally within the simple geometries defining the rooms. These features were preserved, choosing to emphasize the functions of the three blocks into which the interior has been reorganized through different facade colors: a teal green cocciopesto plaster was chosen for the kitchen, an ochre-colored raw finish identifies the sleeping area, and an ivory white was selected for the central block housing the living area. For the thresholds, windowsills, and steps, lava stone was used to create a sharp chromatic contrast, which is also reflected in the interior lining of the swimming pool, giving the water a very intense shade of blue.

The project was entrusted to DAA Studio, which created three comfortable bedrooms with respective bathrooms, one of which occupies the entire first floor and features a large private terrace. It is accessed via an internal spiral staircase—a distinctive element of the original project that the designers chose to maintain.

Similarly, the monolithic masonry and concrete fireplace in the living area was emphasized by cladding it with small square burgundy tiles reaching up to the ceiling. The other two bedrooms are located on the ground floor, separated by an ideal axis that runs from the entrance door to the glass door on the opposite side, creating a 'telescope' of light that separates the living room from the dining area. The kitchen occupies the space of the old garage. The wall that separated it from the house was completely demolished, and the difference in floor level was bridged by three micro-cement steps, matching those at the base of the spiral staircase.

Credits

Nepita: https://www.nepita.it/
Architecture Firm: DAA Studio
Lead Architects: Chiara del Piccolo

Photography: Nepita - https://www.instagram.com/nepita_sr/