Italy Houzz Tour: A Ruined Farmhouse Gets a Sustainable New Life
In the Tuscan countryside, the ruins of a 19th-century farmhouse are rebuilt with sustainable materials and techniques
This abandoned farmhouse near Florence in the Italian countryside had been reduced to ruins. When Filippo Martini and Flavio Bonsignore of Ora Architetti took on the renovation, the whole building needed to be rebuilt, from the outer walls and their finishes to the insulation and interiors.
The building used to serve a nearby farm and enjoys a privileged location at the top of a hill that offers an amazing 360-degree view. Built towards the end of the 19th century, the farmhouse consists of the main building and a secondary structure (on the right). Both were built at different times, which is evident in their structural differences: the former is made of local stone, while the latter is concrete and was added later.
As this photo shows, the old farmhouse was in a precarious state and very little could be saved. It needed structural intervention and renovations throughout. After proposing a full redesign in 2016, renovations took place in 2017.
As this photo shows, the old farmhouse was in a precarious state and very little could be saved. It needed structural intervention and renovations throughout. After proposing a full redesign in 2016, renovations took place in 2017.
The architects say the contrast between the two structures served as a starting point for the project. “The wooden structure replaces an annex that dates back to the ’50s, which was incorporated into the main building in the ’80s,” says Martini.
“We didn’t want to restore the structure and try to make it look falsely historical. Instead, we wanted to highlight the main building with its earlier brick texture by making the annex different.”
Find an architect near you on Houzz to redesign your home, read reviews of their projects and see images of their work
“We didn’t want to restore the structure and try to make it look falsely historical. Instead, we wanted to highlight the main building with its earlier brick texture by making the annex different.”
Find an architect near you on Houzz to redesign your home, read reviews of their projects and see images of their work
The paved farmyard would have originally been used as a place to work with seeds and harvested crops
“The wood finish is larch, which will mature to the perfect colour in a few years,” says Bonsignore. “We didn’t want to paint it, since we believe that the discolouration we’re aiming for can only be reached with time. In two to three years, once both the stone grout and the wood have been affected by weathering, we will get the final hues we planned on – greyish and therefore in harmony with the surrounding undergrowth.”
“The wood finish is larch, which will mature to the perfect colour in a few years,” says Bonsignore. “We didn’t want to paint it, since we believe that the discolouration we’re aiming for can only be reached with time. In two to three years, once both the stone grout and the wood have been affected by weathering, we will get the final hues we planned on – greyish and therefore in harmony with the surrounding undergrowth.”
As the zoning of the building was changed from a farmhouse to a residential structure, they were also able to add new windows. The architects wanted to give the building visual impact, and they did so through unique sculptural window frames.
“The wood seems thicker here, and it ‘frames’ the views well,” says Martini. “We have impressive views of Volterra and San Gimignano [nearby towns], so we designed the windows to be angled in those directions.”
“The wood seems thicker here, and it ‘frames’ the views well,” says Martini. “We have impressive views of Volterra and San Gimignano [nearby towns], so we designed the windows to be angled in those directions.”
The views of local towns were informed by the philosophical underpinnings of the project, which were to harmonise with the landscape and respect the surrounding environment. Other details also support this central aim, such as the use of timber-fibre insulation, solar panels that are used to power the hot-water system, and ventilated roofing.
So how did this sustainability focus come about? “It was a mutual decision,” says Martini. “We proposed this approach to the client and, in this case, got a positive response. He, too, had envisioned something like a passive house, to the point of wanting an independent, autonomous wood-heating system.”
So how did this sustainability focus come about? “It was a mutual decision,” says Martini. “We proposed this approach to the client and, in this case, got a positive response. He, too, had envisioned something like a passive house, to the point of wanting an independent, autonomous wood-heating system.”
The farmhouse’s interior was originally a single space without any internal partitions, except for the later structure that had been added.
In the updated architectural drawings, pictured here, the architects spread the rooms across the upper and lower parts of the original building. The open-plan spaces are divided by the stairs connecting the different levels.
In the updated architectural drawings, pictured here, the architects spread the rooms across the upper and lower parts of the original building. The open-plan spaces are divided by the stairs connecting the different levels.
Like the exterior, the interior is characterised by the use of natural materials. The trussed roof with its chestnut beams is typical of this region.
The structure of the mezzanine floor is fir. Once again, in the spirit of environmentally friendly design, the architects saved all the stone they tore down and reused the undamaged pieces in the new structure.
For the flooring, they chose resin with a cement finish, for a simple look and coherent colour palette.
In the bathroom, the resin finish was treated differently to the rest of the rooms in the house.
“In the bathrooms, the resin with the concrete finish was brushed,” says Bonsignore. “A resin worker did this for us with a broom. Before the resin dried, we brushed it onto the surfaces.”
“In the bathrooms, the resin with the concrete finish was brushed,” says Bonsignore. “A resin worker did this for us with a broom. Before the resin dried, we brushed it onto the surfaces.”
The fir flooring is a local material that ties the home to its region and the surrounding natural scenery. The connection with nature has been reinforced through the selection of ecologically responsible techniques and materials.
Your turn
Which features of this historical home do you love? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Craving another dose of international design? Read this UK Houzz Tour: A Bright, Fearless Revamp for a Small, Dingy Home
Your turn
Which features of this historical home do you love? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Craving another dose of international design? Read this UK Houzz Tour: A Bright, Fearless Revamp for a Small, Dingy Home
Who lives here: A young family with children
Location: Monsanto district near Florence, Italy
Architects: Ora Architetti
Size: About 220 square metres
Price: Approximately AUD$570,000
The guiding idea behind this ambitious project was respect for nature and the region. This was expressed through the choice of local natural materials – timber and stone – and through building techniques that minimised the home’s impact on the environment, both during and after construction.