Restauro di un casolare tra le colline del Verdicchio 

Located on the hills of the castles of Jesi, in the countryside among the typical Verdicchio vineyards where sandstone is the building material par excellence, the property was built before 1800 as a garrison for the patriarchal family of the sharecropper. The building has changed and adapted over time to the needs of agricultural production by addressing various expansions that are also necessary for the growing needs due to the growth of the families who lived there.

With the abandonment of the lands and with the consequent “urbanization” of the population, the house abandoned its productive functions and became a place of rest and vacation in the summer period until it was abandoned in the last decade.

In 2012, the owners, two Northern European artists determined to discover the Marche after years spent in France, asked to transform a typical country house full of charm into a modern and functional home without losing its history.

Analyzing the property, two buildings were immediately identified, built in different eras and materials: the upstream part with stone and brick masonry and wooden floors and the downstream part, built with a much more regular masonry and floors of inter-floor in brick.

Consequently, an attempt was made to entrust each of the two buildings with a role, highlighting their characteristics.

Preserving the building envelope was one of the design priorities, bringing out the original stone wall face.

The ceilings with exposed beams in dark oak have been painted with a special light lime paint, the floors have been rebuilt in terracotta throughout the first floor, while in the living area on the ground floor a concrete floor has been opted for the beaten of the old stable.

The rooms to which the utmost attention was given were the kitchen / dining area on the ground floor and the master bedroom on the first floor.

The kitchen with peninsula was made of custom wood and is composed of two areas, one for preparing meals and one for cleaning. All furnishings are made of wood with grit worktop.

From the bedroom, with a bed placed in the center of this large room, you can admire the magnificent panorama that leads from the hills painted in the green of the vineyards to the blue of the sky that merges with the blue of the sea. The bathtub is exposed, while a more reserved corner houses the services.

The harmony and balance re-established through the materials and finishes chosen, found further emphasis through the light. Some small windows, in fact, have been transformed into French windows with single-leaf white wooden frames, thus improving the supply of natural light to the related rooms.

At the same time, particular attention was paid to the choice of lighting bodies, opting for elements created by hand by ceramic artists.

The primary objective was to design the interior space in continuity with the surrounding space.

Outside, the green weed surrounding the building was removed; many olive trees that prevented the panoramic view towards the hills were moved creating rows along the south-east side and many fruit trees were pruned.

The turf that surrounds the house reaches the edge of the pool; this, 3 x 10 m in size, fits gracefully along the natural hillside creating a harmonious space to which the building itself acts as a backdrop.