Rural Refuge

Rarely do you find country homes that possess an authentic rural spirit and that, at the same time, are an expression of refined, genuinely contemporary architectural taste (and construction savvy). It is true of this unpretentious home, nestled in the scenic Val Tidone countryside: a space that exudes timeless natural elegance, in harmony with the aesthetic values that are part of the Flexform DNA. Making it the perfect location to host its collections, in an interplay of elective affinities. The client is a Milanese professional, whose longtime fancy for this special area began when she visited friends nearby.
Initially, the idea was to purchase an existing building, farm or villa. But after a fruitless search, a change of plan. Not finding anything agreeable, it seemed better to build from the ground up. Catering to one’s own taste and wishes. Tasked with the job was Geert Koster, Dutch architect with a studio in Milan and designer of several homes in the area that had caught the client’s eye. At first, the idea was to use prefabricated components. That was soon ruled out in favor of traditional methods that would ensure superior energy efficiency (a specific client request) without, however, increasing construction costs. A key focus of the entire project was sustainability - from orienting the building to optimize exposure to the sun, to the construction materials selected and the geothermal heating and cooling system.
The shape is a reinterpretation of an archetype in these country fields: the barn. A long, low rectangular structure, unadorned, the distilled version of a vernacular element of the landscape.
The exterior is clad in natural larch, which requires no maintenance and, as it ages, will weather to a silver-grey, blending into the environment. When closed, even the completely flush doors and windows disappear into the facade. The structure of the wood roof is clad in corrugated panels made with natural materials.
«The home is all on one floor and is divided into a living area and a sleeping area but, thanks to the central axis, these spaces are always connected,» explains Koster. «The heart of the home, with the fireplace, includes a large kitchen and dining area that opens onto the partially covered patio. Large living room windows overlook the valley, including a picture window that frames the natural landscape like a painting. The four bedrooms all have en-suite bath and ceiling-height doors for direct access to the surrounding gardens. Through the use of natural materials, the interiors create an uncluttered space, tasteful and minimalist, akin to an art gallery.»
The concrete floors have a quartz-cement finish that creates large stone-like slabs. These extend out onto the exterior patio, a platform that seems to have just risen out of the ground. The flooring in the entry is made of natural, hand-painted lava stone tile from Mt. Etna. The interior walls and ceiling are finished with white lime plaster. The interior openings between rooms are extra tall and lend an air of monumental purity. The custom kitchen is made of reclaimed wood. Commissioned to design the green spaces, brilliant landscape architect Antonio Perazzi created a wild garden, composed of gravel surfaces, meadows, pioneer and vagabond plants and perennial grasses. A place to relax and rest, to cook and converse with friends. Utopia materialized.