Eco Living
Italian Houzz: The Eco-Friendly Rebirth of an Old Barn
Tradition and landscape combine to re-create an outbuilding as a modern holiday house in the Italian countryside
This holiday house made for a family of four was built in an old barn, hidden in the landscape of the Tidone Valley in the countryside near Piacenza, northern Italy. Here, architect Michele Rossi from Park Associati designed a rustic house for himself, his wife – an American designer – and their daughters. Italian landscape restrictions affected the project, forcing the designer to deal with traditional spaces and materials.
In spite of this, the house holds a modern flair while nature, beautiful and wild, also plays its part in the design. The result is a contemporary house open to a lush Italian valley, where designer furnishings and American influences coexist with stunning results.
In spite of this, the house holds a modern flair while nature, beautiful and wild, also plays its part in the design. The result is a contemporary house open to a lush Italian valley, where designer furnishings and American influences coexist with stunning results.
Local municipal regulations called for this holiday house to take in the square-shaped plan of an old barn, in order to fit in with its rural surroundings. To create movement and enhance the rectangular lines, the architect chose to bring the natural environment into the interior spaces. He designed an open house where indoor and outdoor areas work together, creating an open-air environment for his family to enjoy during their stays.
The project developed with some sustainable features: the house was situated in order to optimise sun exposure in winter and to minimise it in summer, while insulating materials have also been used throughout.
The project developed with some sustainable features: the house was situated in order to optimise sun exposure in winter and to minimise it in summer, while insulating materials have also been used throughout.
The front door opens up onto the kitchen, which consists of a large open space that sits alongside a courtyard, and a steel terrace designed by the architect. The steel has been hand-brushed to give the metal a warmer tone, turning a sparse space into a more modern and interesting one.
The continuous line leading from the entrance into the heart of the living area is emphasised by the use of the same flooring material: iroko boards, arranged vertically, prolong the line of the space taking the eye along the corridor. The main idea for the ground floor was to open the area to the outside, creating a nice multi-purpose space with big windows that flood the area with natural light.
The continuous line leading from the entrance into the heart of the living area is emphasised by the use of the same flooring material: iroko boards, arranged vertically, prolong the line of the space taking the eye along the corridor. The main idea for the ground floor was to open the area to the outside, creating a nice multi-purpose space with big windows that flood the area with natural light.
A cosier and more secluded space is the dining room, where a large sliding glass door brings the landscape into view. In the centre there is a large rectangular table, surrounded by chairs of various styles. These are all secondhand and were mainly found in old buildings; some used to belong to a school in the valley.
Rossi wanted a home where past, present and future were bound together, and managed this through his choices of furniture and decoration throughout the home. The wall of the dining room is decorated with two dartboards, very popular in the States, and a reminder of the culture and the origins of the architect’s wife. The table is lit by a secondhand lamp, while on the cupboard stands a newer designer lamp. The industrial core is reinforced by the colour of the walls and by an old sign that becomes a piece of furniture, which warms the room up.
The flooring is made of local stone, laid traditionally in split slates. A low bookcase, recovered from the old family house, is the most important piece of furniture in the room.
Lamp: Danese
Rossi wanted a home where past, present and future were bound together, and managed this through his choices of furniture and decoration throughout the home. The wall of the dining room is decorated with two dartboards, very popular in the States, and a reminder of the culture and the origins of the architect’s wife. The table is lit by a secondhand lamp, while on the cupboard stands a newer designer lamp. The industrial core is reinforced by the colour of the walls and by an old sign that becomes a piece of furniture, which warms the room up.
The flooring is made of local stone, laid traditionally in split slates. A low bookcase, recovered from the old family house, is the most important piece of furniture in the room.
Lamp: Danese
A wooden panel to the side of the dining area conceals the pantry. A fireplace was also set in the room, and when lit it becomes the centre of the room, drawing the attention of the family more than a television would.
A stone wall takes centre stage in the living room and reinforces the ongoing dialogue between indoor and outdoor spaces. This is a great feature for a country house, which the family wanted to remain strongly linked to the environment.
At the bottom of the wall there is another large fireplace, with a sliding window that allows the owners to keep it open or closed, regulating the heat it releases. The fireplaces heat up the whole house thanks to vents located throughout the home, along with an inbuilt heating system. Designer objects are featured alongside vintage furniture: the black leather chair used to be in Rossi’s architect studio.
Couch: Moroso
At the bottom of the wall there is another large fireplace, with a sliding window that allows the owners to keep it open or closed, regulating the heat it releases. The fireplaces heat up the whole house thanks to vents located throughout the home, along with an inbuilt heating system. Designer objects are featured alongside vintage furniture: the black leather chair used to be in Rossi’s architect studio.
Couch: Moroso
A raw metal box holds the wood for the fire, and the space is also used as a library. The effect is rustic and natural.
Some furniture tells a story, having belonged to the designer’s family in the past. One example is the chaise longue in the living room, which has been with the architect for many years.
Le Corbusier chiase longue LC4: Cassina
Le Corbusier chiase longue LC4: Cassina
The sleeping quarters are upstairs. In its style and furnishings, the master bedroom continues the tone of the dwelling; simple and minimal. A low bedhead is enhanced by the wooden shelves behind it, decorated with paintings, prints and mementos. This a simple way to display the family’s memories, and can be easily changed around to suit evolving tastes and the addition of new memories.
Vico Magistretti Eclisse lamp: Artmemide
Vico Magistretti Eclisse lamp: Artmemide
Behind the slate blue wall, the master ensuite features a wooden cabinet, which warms the room and gives it a natural flavour, while the square basin resting on the floor adds a more contemporary flair.
The girls’ bedroom is decorated with traditional native American dolls, handmade by artisans. In the background one of the bedside tables, made from local timber, enhances the natural decor.
Here you can see that the doors of these rooms have been kept in the Piacenza rural style: there is no frame or profile, instead an iroko wood axis is nailed to one side of the wall and closes on the opposite side.
The bedroom is lit with a ceramic lamp with a visible bulb hanging in the middle of the room.
Here you can see that the doors of these rooms have been kept in the Piacenza rural style: there is no frame or profile, instead an iroko wood axis is nailed to one side of the wall and closes on the opposite side.
The bedroom is lit with a ceramic lamp with a visible bulb hanging in the middle of the room.
A large window overlooks the courtyard, from where you can see the staircase leading upstairs. At the top of these stairs, a long corridor leads to the bedrooms. A retro armchair, which was found in an old market, takes pride of place in the corridor.
The inner courtyard, considered to be the heart of the house, allowed the architect to break the rigid shape of the original barn-style design. An open-air room that communicates freely with the house, it further ties together the indoor and outdoor spaces of this home.
The space is cheery and well utilised in summer, but it also becomes a protected and comfortable place for the family to spend the warmer winter days.
The space is cheery and well utilised in summer, but it also becomes a protected and comfortable place for the family to spend the warmer winter days.
On the opposite side of the house the outdoor terrace, used especially in the warmer seasons, was made with a steel frame topped with timber boards. A small elevated structure, it is made more comfortable with the addition of a daybed, ideal to lie down on and enjoy the Italian sun.
And to finish off there is also an annexe, set out as a big playroom for the girls. A grown-up playroom abuts the kids’ space in the form of a garage, which is also used as a garden shed.
Large windows and glassed-in doors, which make the space a bright and open one, are framed in rust-coloured iron, while the brick walls are covered with timber cladding to ensure they blend in with the surrounding rural landscape.
Large windows and glassed-in doors, which make the space a bright and open one, are framed in rust-coloured iron, while the brick walls are covered with timber cladding to ensure they blend in with the surrounding rural landscape.
Who lives there: Architect Michele Rossi, his wife Lisa Farmer, a designer, and their two daughters use this property as a holiday house
Location: Tidone Valley, Piacenza, northern Italy
Size: 200 square metres
Year of construction: 2003
Architect: Michele Rossi, architect of Park Associati
Interesting point: The house was designed on the plan of an old barn; it embraces the natural environment, integrating it into the rooms. The style is rustic, with elements of contemporary design and some American influences.