An Italian Villa Rises From the Rubble
The architect pays homage to the history of a house that was too unsafe to save
This house in the eastern Italian region of Le Marche threatened to collapse and, except for two small sections of wall, had to be torn down. This presented architect Giorgio Balestra with the challenge of “restoring” the building from the ground up. He reused the building’s materials and re-created its original form down to the placement of every window. He even kept a half-destroyed wall as a monument to what had stood here before.
This deep reverence for the history of the place didn’t stop Balestra from adding modern elements, such as a pool with a hydromassage area and a diving zone, for his clients. Nonetheless, the additions fit perfectly into the aesthetic of this Italian countryside retreat.
This deep reverence for the history of the place didn’t stop Balestra from adding modern elements, such as a pool with a hydromassage area and a diving zone, for his clients. Nonetheless, the additions fit perfectly into the aesthetic of this Italian countryside retreat.
Before: Many foreigners fall in love with Italy and take on the significant challenge of resurrecting a countryside ruin. The Northern European couple who bought this house, in the province of Ancona, in 2007 hoped to renovate it to use as a vacation getaway. (The building on the left isn’t part of their property.) The house was already run-down, and it suffered further collapses while the owners were waiting for municipal building permits.
It took three years to secure the necessary permissions, during which time the building deteriorated to the point where it needed to be completely buttressed with wooden scaffolding if the owners wanted keep it.
It took three years to secure the necessary permissions, during which time the building deteriorated to the point where it needed to be completely buttressed with wooden scaffolding if the owners wanted keep it.
During the two-year renovation, the team came across a small brick engraved with the date 1674. However, the building as it was when the owners bought it dates back only to the early 19th century, according to the official estimate. At that time, it was used as an outpost for the control of saltwater wells.
The half-crumbled wall on the left suggests that the building used to be longer. This image shows Balestra’s projection of what the building originally looked like. Unfortunately, “the municipal council rejected this theory, so it was not possible to enlarge the building during the renovation,” he says.
The half-crumbled wall on the left suggests that the building used to be longer. This image shows Balestra’s projection of what the building originally looked like. Unfortunately, “the municipal council rejected this theory, so it was not possible to enlarge the building during the renovation,” he says.
Balestra preserved this section of wall as a way to tell the story of the building and bear witness to its original features.
In such conservation projects, there is usually the dilemma of whether to renovate or rebuild. In this case, the building was so unstable, there was no doubt that rebuilding was the best course of action.
Find an architect for your project
In such conservation projects, there is usually the dilemma of whether to renovate or rebuild. In this case, the building was so unstable, there was no doubt that rebuilding was the best course of action.
Find an architect for your project
“If it is a listed building or a building with any kind of architectural value, everything possible must be done to preserve it. On the other hand, if it is, as often happens, an average rural property without any particularly valuable architectural elements, you try to maintain that which is historical, making any interventions stand out to distinguish the new and original elements,” Balestra says.
“In this specific case, only some minor features remained, and since we had to follow earthquake codes, we had to demolish a good many of those parts. We kept some portions and stabilized them,” he says.
For example, a detail of the original arch was preserved and integrated into the new structure, as shown. This was reinforced and fixed to the load-bearing wall — which was made of reinforced concrete — with iron rods and resin. A small portion of the back wall also was preserved.
For example, a detail of the original arch was preserved and integrated into the new structure, as shown. This was reinforced and fixed to the load-bearing wall — which was made of reinforced concrete — with iron rods and resin. A small portion of the back wall also was preserved.
Although a conservative restoration wasn’t possible, all the material from the old sandstone structure was salvaged after the demolition and reused in the new building. Traditional construction techniques were used but modified to meet earthquake codes.
The load-bearing masonry, which is about 10 inches thick, is made of bricks that are especially resistant to traction and compression. They’re covered with a sort of skin made of lime and the local sandstone salvaged from the demolition, increasing the thickness by another 10 to 12 inches.
“The external stonemasonry work has an aesthetic function and also helps stabilize the building along with the load-bearing masonry,” Balestra says.
The load-bearing masonry, which is about 10 inches thick, is made of bricks that are especially resistant to traction and compression. They’re covered with a sort of skin made of lime and the local sandstone salvaged from the demolition, increasing the thickness by another 10 to 12 inches.
“The external stonemasonry work has an aesthetic function and also helps stabilize the building along with the load-bearing masonry,” Balestra says.
Before: Workers construct the building’s new sandstone skin.
Before: The roof, made with traditional techniques, is reinforced with modern steel tie rods.
The building’s footprint is unchanged. Even the new windows are in their original locations, with the frames hidden inside the wall.
The house has two stories, and the surrounding landscape takes advantage of a slope for a multilevel effect. As a result, the back of the second floor also exits to the yard.
The thick masonry and the air moving through the house keep the inside temperature mild and fairly stable throughout the year.
The house has two stories, and the surrounding landscape takes advantage of a slope for a multilevel effect. As a result, the back of the second floor also exits to the yard.
The thick masonry and the air moving through the house keep the inside temperature mild and fairly stable throughout the year.
Before: Compare the previous photo to this one of the original house and you can see that the windows are in the same locations.
The swimming pool is the most obvious new element. It offers multiple depths, as the owners requested. “The clients wanted to include and integrate a hydromassage area, a diving spot and a relaxation area,” Balestra says.
Before: The varying depths of the pool are especially evident in this midconstruction photo.
Hydromassage jets are located along the submerged steps, which serve as seats in the massage area. From there, the depth increases toward the diving spot. Finally, there is a relaxation area at the edge with a 19½-inch-deep bench. The pool is finished in porcelain stoneware tiles.
Next to it, a pergola defines an outdoor dining area. The door leads to the ground-floor living room, while the stairs that can be seen in the photo (just to the right of the door, behind the table and around the corner of the home) lead to the upper level of the garden, where there is an entrance to the second floor.
Which Pergola Is Right for You?
Next to it, a pergola defines an outdoor dining area. The door leads to the ground-floor living room, while the stairs that can be seen in the photo (just to the right of the door, behind the table and around the corner of the home) lead to the upper level of the garden, where there is an entrance to the second floor.
Which Pergola Is Right for You?
On one side of the pool is a large teak deck, which is a perfect spot for sunbathing. Below it is the utility area that houses the pool filtration pumps.
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House at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of four from Northern Europe when on vacation
Location: Serra San Quirico, Italy
Size: 1,722 square feet (160 square meters) on a lot that’s about a half-acre (2,000 square meters)
Architect: Giorgio Balestra