Houzz Tour: Italian Dry-Stone Huts Meet Modern Glass
A full-size olive tree encased in glass is just one of the surprises in this ‘trullo’ home in Italy
It’s not unusual to see the trulli — traditional dry-stone huts with distinctive conical roofs — that dot the Apulian countryside in southern Italy returned to life with original materials and techniques. Architect Enrico Maria Cicchetti went a step further, however, extending this trullo complex with a glass cube that serves as both an open lounge and a winter garden. This feature, built around an olive tree, melds rural architecture with a touch of the contemporary, and intimately links the indoor and outdoor spaces.
This trullo complex was in total disrepair, so it had to be demolished and rebuilt from scratch. The original materials were salvaged and reused by local craftspeople, 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 of the 2015 project.
“Throughout the project, we looked for and involved local craftsmen with the unique skills needed for the renovation,” Cicchetti says. “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.
Donato Tanzarella of IART made the cabinets in the kitchen, pictured here, as well as the heating systems and doors throughout the house.
“Throughout the project, we looked for and involved local craftsmen with the unique skills needed for the renovation,” Cicchetti says. “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.
Donato Tanzarella of IART made the cabinets in the kitchen, pictured here, as well as the heating systems and doors throughout the house.
Each piece of furniture, including this bed, is unique, custom-built and handmade. The bed is in an alcove that originally served as a fireplace.
The wooden bed frames, made by a local company, have storage space underneath.
The bathrooms contain a stone sink and exposed, zinc-covered pipes. The fixtures were chosen for their simplicity. “We picked the functional beauty of simple materials and elements over brand-name designs,” Cicchetti says.
The stone finish here, as well as the barbecue (photos follow) and some of the stone seats around the property, were made by Cava Valentini.
The stone finish here, as well as the barbecue (photos follow) and some of the stone seats around the property, were made by 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 13 feet tall and houses an ancient olive tree. “In these areas, olive groves are usually outside the perimeter of the lived-in property,” Cicchetti says. “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. The tree gets fresh air from two large doorways on opposite sides of the structure.
The cube is about 13 feet tall and houses an ancient olive tree. “In these areas, olive groves are usually outside the perimeter of the lived-in property,” Cicchetti says. “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. The tree gets fresh air from 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.
Floor: Nuvolato Architop, Ideal Work
Floor: Nuvolato Architop, Ideal Work
The cube is made of glass and iron. The structure is surprisingly simple and easy to maintain since it can be accessed from the roof terrace and its frame can be walked on.
It’s a livable 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’s a livable 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 cave. Standing at waist height, this monolith was dug out in the center 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.
The front yard features a reinforced-concrete swimming pool that’s about 82 feet long. Two ecru sails provide a shady refuge.
Shade Sails: Outdoor Rooms Take Wing
Shade Sails: Outdoor Rooms Take Wing
The juxtaposition of different materials and textures, such as stone and glass, along with the harmonious combination of art, architecture and craftsmanship, defines a renovation that was both innovative and faithful to the original.
“We were inspired by the Bauhaus school,” Cicchetti says, “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,” Cicchetti says, “which does away with the boundaries between these three disciplines, promoting a comprehensive and coordinated approach to different forms of expertise.”
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A family from Rome with young children
Location: Ostuni, Italy
Size: About 1,400 square feet (130 square meters) on about 5 acres (2 hectares); three bedrooms, two bathrooms
Budget: About $352,000 (300,000 euros)
Architect: Enrico Maria Cicchetti with engineer Francesco Palmisano