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This farmstay property in the hills near Verona overlooks a courtyard, designed as a public square
A project by MASAAI, a studio led by Matteo Maria Savoia and Carlo Alberto Cusinati, Locanda Case Vecie is in the hills of Grezzana, in the province of Verona. Set in 173 ac (70 ha) of rural land and surrounded by woods and vineyards, the building was designed to promote and revitalize local tourism. It comprises a sustainable farmhouse model with areas dedicated to hospitality, dining, and tasting the owner’s wines.
The project involved restoring and repurposing existing buildings, the construction of a new farm business center, setting up tents for glamping and lawns for campers, and the creation of new themed trails so that guests can appreciate the beauty of the hilly landscape.
Locanda Case Vecie opens onto a courtyard transformed into a public square for hikers and cyclists exploring the area. The interior of the farmhouse was fully renovated, with old walls rebuilt, the foundations consolidated, a new cellar dug out of the rock, the integration of all services, and the installation of a thermally insulated envelope around the internal perimeter.
The architectural work was done to preserve the original character of the building. The exposed stone façade was retained, for example, to preserve the building’s history, but was enhanced with climbing plants, green shutters, and large windows that reflect the landscape.
The structure has three levels. At ground level are the kitchen and dining room, work spaces, and a wine tasting and sales room. On the floor above, two new apartments have been created with bedrooms, kitchen, and a bathroom. A building previously used for storing fruit has been transformed into a double-height space with a mezzanine floor, intended to host dinners and other events.
A tavern space contrasts continuous red flooring with a galvanized iron counter, a timber ceiling with stone walls, with some of the walls left exposed to the retain a typically rustic image. The two new guest rooms on the upper floor use a palette of neutral tones that give them an intimate, welcoming atmosphere, with the effect further enhanced by the starring role of timber, used for floors, ceilings, and furniture, recalling the surrounding countryside.
In all the rooms, modern materials – including iron, reinforced glass, laminated wood and concrete – have been combined with the original materials to create a perfect balance between the old and new, between the languages of agriculture and materials.
