The project is a Palmento (environment where a millstone is placed) from 1875, refurbished into a residence, in Vale d’Itria, in the heart of Puglia. The region is famous for its red earth and its wine and olive oil production. It is a place of rich nature and tradition, characteristics that the owner wanted to maintain, while adding modern elements. Since the beginning, there has been an understanding between the D’arc Studio team and the client, resulting in a project that makes a harmonious bridge between past and present, considering comfort, aesthetics, and functionality.
The historic Palmento is the fulcrum around which the project develops. It is characterized by its white lime vault typical of the Apulian constructions combined with contemporary white stucco walls.
The living room is enhanced by the presence of the On the Rocks sofa designed by Francesco Binfaré for Edra, whose organic shape creates an osmotic relationship between the internal and the external areas. The space, habitable at 360 degrees, is characterized by two glass walls that double the use of the environment itself: an intimate room facing the house but also a space that expands to the external view. The Campana Brothers designed Scrigno cabinet for Edra adds a reflective joy to the atmosphere while the stained-glass windows frame the painting-looking landscape. Each color, material, texture is part of a general plan to maximize the contact and appreciation of nature. The furnishing details do not impose themselves as protagonists but as discreet interventions with the aim of creating dialogue with the surrounding environment.
Special attention has been giving to colors. While in the living room the white tones enhance the garden, in the dining room were used soft ones. They can be seen on the Vitra chairs around the D´arc Studio designed V-table, whose composition with the Porro cabinets and the discreet shaped designed details create a focus on the vault that characterizes architecture as the room true protagonist.
The chromatic choice is closely linked to the material one, as it can be seen at the Palmento room. Its corten steel bookshelves and Z-table designed by D´arc Studio blends with the warm tones of the leather Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Charles & Ray Eames for Vitra; the Tripod HM8 Floor lamp by Hvidt&Mølgaard for &Tradition and the fabrics of the sofa Tufty-Time by Patricia UrquiolaDivani per B&B Italia. These shades of orange are linked to the red of the Apulian fields and to the tradition of the place, also expressed by the presence of the old oil press, the cornerstone and traditional vault of the house.
The mastery of native craftsmanship is seen at the whole project, and it is a tribute to local expertise and a further symbol of the transition between yesterday and today. The project is still in progress and involves the construction of an outdoor bioclimatic greenhouse on the same line of our original concept of deep connection with the territory and its historical traditions.
Material Used :
1. Flooring: Resin floor
2. Interior lighting: Ceiling light FLOS; ARTEMIDE, floor lamp &TRADITION
3. Interior furniture: Custom Furniture By Darc:Studio, Vitra; Edra; Porro, B&B,Kartell, Frau, Sink Catalano, Mutina Ceramic
