Villa Nicoletta is situated in the hills of Aci Castello, in the province of Catania, in a region shaped by the presence of Mount Etna and its openness toward the Ionian coast. The project emerged from an engagement with this landscape and the small rural structures found in the surrounding area—simple, single-story buildings with pitched roofs and walls constructed of local lava stone.
The project takes this heritage as its starting point, without replicating it literally. The two main structures reinterpret the archetype of the rural house through a contemporary, minimalist, and material-focused language. The choice of exposed reinforced concrete becomes central: concrete is not merely a structural element but shapes the very image of the building, ideally replacing the lava stone of traditional architecture with a modern, solid, and permanent material.

The concrete surfaces, left in their natural state, retain the imprints of the formwork and create a vertical texture that evokes the layering and roughness of the Etna landscape. The material is used without coatings, embracing its variations, marks, and imperfections as an integral part of the work’s character. In this way, the concrete becomes a living presence, capable of changing with the light and establishing a direct relationship with the ground, the garden, and the local climate.

The two volumes are arranged along slightly inclined axes, creating an inviting entrance on one side and a more intimate, sheltered courtyard on the other. Connecting them is a transparent structure, designed as a light, almost neutral element that links the parts without interfering with the visual impact of the main volumes.
The house appears as a single-story building but is rooted in the ground through a lower level connected by a double-height space. The ground floor houses the main spaces for daily life, including the entrance, living room, kitchen, and dining area.
The relationship with the landscape is established through wide, carefully controlled openings. The interiors open onto the garden and the pool, where the concrete volumes are reflected in the water, amplifying the perception of the building and its materiality. The house maintains a measured presence, avoiding excessive gestures and seeking a balance between mass, light, and nature.

Alongside the concrete, oak wood introduces a warmer, more domestic element. Used in the cladding, flooring, and sloped ceilings, it bridges the transition between exterior and interior and helps make the austerity of the mineral structure more livable. The dialogue between concrete and wood thus defines the project’s identity, combining solidity and comfort, architectural heritage, and the contemporary use of the home.