Italian Houzz: A Fishing Shack Becomes the Perfect Entertainer
What was once a dilapidated relic of days gone by was renovated by an Italian couple as a family retreat and a great place to entertain
They are constructs 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.
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, while architectural and environmental constraints eliminate the possibility of converting the structure to an actual home.
Trabuccos lack bathrooms and are exposed to the elements, while architectural and environmental constraints eliminate the possibility of converting the structure to an actual home.
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 aluminium 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 organise 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 organise 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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Have you renovated an usual structure into a home or entertaining space? Tell us all about it and share your photos in the Comments below.
TELL US
Have you renovated an usual structure into a home or entertaining space? Tell us all about it and share your photos in the Comments below.
Who uses it: A couple and their two children
Location: Pescara, Italy
Year built: 1950s
Size: 24 square metres inside, 112 square metres 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.