Houzz Tour: In Italy, a Former Fishing House Becomes a Beach Hangout
Today it’s a place for hosting friends and family or contemplating the sea
Giulia Zappa
March 7, 2016
Collaboratore Houzz Magazine. Design nerd, giornalista, copywriter e docente di comunicazione, collaboro con il mondo della carta e del web per progetti editoriali e di marketing.
Collaboratore Houzz Magazine. Design nerd, giornalista, copywriter e docente di comunicazione,... More
They are houses on stilts, perched above the sea and designed as part of a system of fishing via nets and poles. These architectural structures known as trabuccos are typical of Italy’s lower Adriatic coast. Their exact origins have been lost, but here, where the sea is rough, it’s particularly difficult for boats to head out to sea. The trabucco allowed fishermen to capture schools of fish as they passed by. The technique is no longer used today, and the trabuccos that have survived — and time has been unkind to them — are ripe for preservation and reinvention.
Houzz at a Glance
Who uses it: A couple and their two children
Location: Pescara, Italy
Year built: 1950s
Size: 258 square feet (24 square meters) inside, 1,206 square feet (112 square meters) on the deck
Architect: studio zero85
The restoration of this trabucco was taken on by studio zero85, an architectural firm based in Pescara, with the support of a commission and the community.
Who uses it: A couple and their two children
Location: Pescara, Italy
Year built: 1950s
Size: 258 square feet (24 square meters) inside, 1,206 square feet (112 square meters) on the deck
Architect: studio zero85
The restoration of this trabucco was taken on by studio zero85, an architectural firm based in Pescara, with the support of a commission and the community.
The trabucco is located near Port Canale at the mouth of the Pescara river and is a rather unusual case. The sea no longer surrounds it, because the currents changed after the construction of a tourist port.
Trabuccos lack bathrooms and are exposed to the elements. Architectural and environmental constraints eliminate the possibility of converting the structure to an actual home or adding a bathroom. There are public bathrooms nearby that people can use.
Trabuccos lack bathrooms and are exposed to the elements. Architectural and environmental constraints eliminate the possibility of converting the structure to an actual home or adding a bathroom. There are public bathrooms nearby that people can use.
A trabucco is state property that can be granted to a private individual for 90 years. It can be exchanged between individuals, who manage both the privileges and responsibilities of the property. Among these are maintenance and any necessary reconstruction.
This trabucco was rebuilt from scratch. The original structure had been destroyed, and only the basic shape was retained, in particular the gabled roof. The new structure has a living room and kitchen area.
This trabucco was rebuilt from scratch. The original structure had been destroyed, and only the basic shape was retained, in particular the gabled roof. The new structure has a living room and kitchen area.
The house is constructed of metal, covered in wood and insulated with mineral wool. The interior, with parquet flooring and aluminum fixtures, is unaffected by the outside humidity.
Lighting, which is minimal, is based on the principles of lighting design in naval architecture. Functionality trumps aesthetics.
The kitchenette and tables face the sea. The building’s wooden siding is shingled in the style typical of seaside homes.
The trabucco — part private cabin, part meeting spot, part meditation room — has become a versatile space for the family, its friends and the local community.
The family members use the trabucco in their own individual ways. For the father it’s useful for work, as he can organize business dinners or prepare events and exhibits — his dream is to restore the other nearby trabuccos and open them to the community, creating a 24-hour music festival with different bands playing inside the structures. The children use it as a place for fun and relaxation.
The family members use the trabucco in their own individual ways. For the father it’s useful for work, as he can organize business dinners or prepare events and exhibits — his dream is to restore the other nearby trabuccos and open them to the community, creating a 24-hour music festival with different bands playing inside the structures. The children use it as a place for fun and relaxation.
The architects opted for flexible furnishings for the little house that’s not quite a home: A mattress set on a base is fitted with big cushions to act as a sofa as well as an occasional bed. Two armchairs create a small space to chat. The walls and ceiling are covered in simple plywood. Of course, the breathtaking view out to sea makes any further decoration superfluous.
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I have to agree. No bathroom. No go. It's like very expensive camping.