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Article in IFJ | 05 – 2020
MAISON ACHE, TUSCANY, ITALY | An early 20th century farmhouse in the Tuscan countryside was converted into a villa that combines modernity with tradition. The architecture and rural style of the building are preserved i.e. a typical plaster facade and sloping pitched roof with flat and bent tiles. The most striking parts of the original layout have been preserved while updating the obsolete. Eclectic rooms showcase local materials and ethnic elements that are part of the family’s memories, custom-made furnishings with design icons and marble busts. The interiors are soaked in colors evocative of the surrounding environment while large arched openings encompass the Tuscan vista. Pietra Serena – a recurring stone in Tuscan and especially Florentine architecture – is used for floors, trim and decoration, while the terracotta flooring conjures up the tones and warmth of the earth. The house’s three levels are connected by a large spiral staircase in pietra serena becoming a signature aspect of the project and an element of continuity; a discreet, material protagonist. The first floor is dedicated to the sleeping area, while the two remaining floors are used as living spaces. Alongside design pieces, such as the famous Lounge Chair by Charles & Ray Eames for Vitra, the Miss K table lamps by Philippe Stark for Flos, Birdie by Ludovica+Roberto Palomba for Foscarini, the 2097 pendant lamp byGino Sarfatti for Flos, the Long Island sofa by Roche Bobois and the Agape bathtub, there are custom-made furnishings designed by Pierattelli Architetture.These clean and linear furnishings are made with local materials by local craftsmen, combining modernity and tradition, fitting with discretion and functionality into the interior design. The living room has a low cabinet in Canaletto walnut, whose feet recall the form of the beams of the villa and the red shelf is the color of terracotta. The cabinet is designed with slightly more depth than is traditional, to better meet the needs of the owners. Immersed in greenery, the building boasts a large terracotta yard resting on a space originally used as a lemon house and now converted to a gym, with an infinity pool from which to enjoy a breathtaking view of the valley.
