Italian Houzz Tour: Dry-Stone Hut Meets Modern Glass Architecture
A full-sized olive tree encased in glass is just one of the surprises in this traditional home in Italy
It is not unusual to see the trulli – traditional dry-stone huts with distinctive conical roofs– that dot the Apulian countryside in Italy brought back to life with original materials and techniques. Architect Enrico Maria Cicchetti went a step further, however, extending this trullo complex with a glass cube built around an olive tree, which serves as both an open lounge and a winter garden. This glass feature melds rural architecture with a touch of the contemporary, and intimately links indoor and outdoor spaces.
This trullo complex was in a state of total disrepair, so it had to be demolished and rebuilt from scratch. The original materials were salvaged and reused by local craftsmen, who employed the same ancient techniques these structures had been built with long ago. The work was coordinated “24/7 in order for it to be completed within six months and to prevent any loss of time, money or enthusiasm,” says Cicchetti.
“Throughout the project we looked for and involved local craftsmen with the unique skills needed for the renovation,” says Cicchetti. “This also resulted in an undeniable advantage in terms of costs.” Nonetheless, bringing the ancient rural style into the present was of course primarily a stylistic decision.
The cabinets in the kitchen, pictured here, as well as the heating systems and doors throughout the house, were made by Donato Tanzarella of IART.
“Throughout the project we looked for and involved local craftsmen with the unique skills needed for the renovation,” says Cicchetti. “This also resulted in an undeniable advantage in terms of costs.” Nonetheless, bringing the ancient rural style into the present was of course primarily a stylistic decision.
The cabinets in the kitchen, pictured here, as well as the heating systems and doors throughout the house, were made by Donato Tanzarella of IART.
Each piece of furniture is unique, custom-built and handmade, including this bed, which stands in an alcove that originally served as a fireplace.
The wooden bed frames, made by a local company, have storage spaces underneath.
The bathrooms feature a stone washbasin next to exposed, zinc-covered pipes. The fittings were chosen for their simplicity. “We picked the functional beauty of simple materials and elements over brand-name designs,” says Cicchetti.
The stone finish here, as well as the barbecue (see below) and some of the stone seats around the property were made by the Montalbano manufacturer Cava Valentini.
The stone finish here, as well as the barbecue (see below) and some of the stone seats around the property were made by the Montalbano manufacturer Cava Valentini.
The architects made two major additions to the original structure: a fifth trullo, and the pièce de résistance, a glass cube that adds a contemporary touch to the historic locale and serves as a winter garden.
The cube is about 4 metres tall, and houses an ancient olive tree. “In these areas, olive groves are usually outside the perimeter of the lived-in property,” says Cicchetti. “To make better use of these beautiful trees, we moved 13 of them from their original location so they could be seen and enjoyed from each window of the home.”
The cube protects the olive tree over winter, but fresh air can be brought in through two large doorways on opposite sides of the structure.
The cube is about 4 metres tall, and houses an ancient olive tree. “In these areas, olive groves are usually outside the perimeter of the lived-in property,” says Cicchetti. “To make better use of these beautiful trees, we moved 13 of them from their original location so they could be seen and enjoyed from each window of the home.”
The cube protects the olive tree over winter, but fresh air can be brought in through two large doorways on opposite sides of the structure.
The glass box is a transitional zone that connects the indoor and outdoor spaces. Its floor brings an element of continuity: concrete can be found inside and out, as the exterior of the trulli alternates between a concrete finish and exposed stone with concrete grout.
Nuvolato floor: Ideal Work
Nuvolato floor: Ideal Work
The cube’s structure is made of glass and iron. Despite its deep aesthetic impact, it is actually extremely simple and easy to maintain. It can be accessed from the roof terrace and it is possible to walk on the frame.
It is a living space where family and friends can gather. One can easily imagine how evocative and beautiful this space is at sunset or in the quiet of the evening.
It is a living space where family and friends can gather. One can easily imagine how evocative and beautiful this space is at sunset or in the quiet of the evening.
Another outdoor feature is less eye-catching but no less valuable: a barbecue made by Cava Valentini out of stone from a Montalbano cave. Standing at waist height, this monolith has been dug out at its centre to hold a grill.
As is typical of trullo architecture, each hut is connected to the rest by tunnel hallways (not pictured). On the outside, steps lead to the upper parts of the huts, which offer an amazing view of the geometric buildings and the olive grove.
A 25-metre reinforced-concrete swimming pool was built in the front yard. Two raw ecru sails provide a shady refuge.
The juxtaposition of different materials and textures, such as stone and glass, along with the harmonious combination of art, architecture and craftsmanship defined a renovation that was both innovative and faithful to the original.
“We were inspired by the Bauhaus school,” says Cicchetti, “which does away with the boundaries between these three disciplines, promoting a comprehensive and coordinated approach to different forms of expertise.”
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“We were inspired by the Bauhaus school,” says Cicchetti, “which does away with the boundaries between these three disciplines, promoting a comprehensive and coordinated approach to different forms of expertise.”
Tell us
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A family from Rome with young children
Location: Ostuni (Brindisi), Apulia, in the south of Italy
Year built: 2015
Architect: Enrico Maria Cicchetti with engineer Francesco Palmisano
Size: About 1400 square feet (130 square metres); 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and 2 hectares (20,000 square metres) of surrounding land
Budget: About 300,000 euros (about US$360,000)