MIDE ARCHITETTI
ARCHITECTURE
TEXT
MIDE ARCHITETTI
PHOTO
ALESSANDRA BELLO
COUNTRY HOUSE
RENOVATION
Architects: Mide Architetti
T
he project site
involves an old
country house,
built in 1887 in
the immediate
neighborhood of Lucca and
a most recent farmhand’s
cottage. The buildings are
integrated in the countryside of
Lucca and maintain its typical
characteristics. Specifically,
the buildings are located in
a hilly landscape, between
gentle slopes, where oaks and
chestnuts lick the property.
In this background, the
renovation has been directed
to both the maintenance
and the enhancement of
typical elements of the
local architecture, such as
exposed brick wall, stone of
Matraia and chestnut wood.
Pursuing this goal, and in
full respect of the typical
features, the components and
materials used have been
revised in a contemporary
way, adopting the most
appropriate construction
techniques, in order to ensure
the achievement of the best
possible result. Inside the
country house we sought
to manually apply, using
the traditional spatulas and
sponges, natural lime-based
plasters that highlight the
irregular rocky surface of
the walls. The recovery of
beams and hollow tiles by
sandblasting, is an explicit
call to the traditional Tuscan
architecture, refreshed by the
bleaching of the ceilings.
The exterior was deliberately
kept unchanged in surface and
holes, in order to maintain its
historicity without sacrificing
59
the charm. Therefore, we opted
for basic external fixtures made
of steel. In the garden the large
swimming pool is integrated
with the surrounding landscape,
respecting the vegetation and
the secular olive trees, leaved
unaltered. The adjacent cottage
has been completely renovated
inside, opting for contemporary
materials and colours: the
concrete floor and the black
lavatory contribute to give a
new identity to the building.
Finally, in the hypogeum you
can find a spa area consisting of
a large tub and a cedar
wood sauna.
LOCATION:
Via Lucca, 55027
Bolognana LU, Italy
AREA:
320.0 sqm
CONSTRUCTION
COMPANY:
LUCCAEDIL
INFIXES:
PALLADIO