Holiday house in rural Lecce

Set in a rural location shaped by the changes that a long farming tradition has brought to the land, this summer holiday house is surrounded by tradition in the form of dry stone walls, small stone buildings, embankments, and olive groves. In such a natural setting, marked by the long-term influence of humans, tradition becomes a key element.
The project reflects a progressive view of the relationship between the traditional and the contemporary, putting down strong roots through its design and making equally strong changes through superimposing upon the countryside a residential building with no relationship to the functional requirements of farming. The result is a radical shift in perspective, tempered by the preservation of compositional and technical elements that reflect traditional concepts.
The house appears very solid, its design seemingly flattened along the ground, creating a powerful volume. The white rendered exterior likewise expresses solidity and is reminiscent of an ancient building with the walls sloping steeply towards the ground. The differently sized square windows, with timber frames and shutters, seem to randomly dot the walls at different heights without the rigidity of any symmetrical pattern – a common feature of many old buildings. Each exterior wall is therefore different from the next.
The thickness of the walls is broken by the window openings, which on the inside form large tapering spaces around the glazing, suggesting a focusing on the changing landscape and horizons, half concealed by trees, land, and glimpses of sky. The walls themselves employ different construction methods. The lower section uses concrete blocks to form a cavity filled with stones. Above the reinforced concrete lintel, the walls are lighter and thinner, with the exterior and interior concrete blocks joining in the middle.
Inside, the home is dominated by parallel barrel vaults of exposed tuff stone, imparting a striking and solemn look to the interiors. The materials are a reference to local traditions: the stone vaulting is reflected in the Lecce stone floors, while Lecce stone has also been used for the coping, forming a thin, slightly projecting line in a contrasting colour that marks the tops of the walls.
The different areas of the home have been arranged to optimize ambient temperatures and maximize outside views. The living area is located to the north to minimize the heat of the sun during the day. By extending the interior space via a large pergola with a slatted roof, the usable area becomes larger, offering opportunities for outdoor living. The three bedrooms, separated from the living area by three bathrooms, are located to the south, towards the distant sea.