In a wooded area near Pordenone, Italy, a historic 19th-century rectory has undergone a dramatic transformation that masterfully blends the region's architectural heritage with bold concrete structures and clean modern lines. The renovation creates expansive living spaces that foster a contemporary lifestyle deeply connected to the surrounding natural environment.
The project, completed by Locus Architetti, exemplifies how brutalist design elements can harmoniously coexist with traditional architecture. If summer is truly a state of mind, then this feeling permeates every corner of this villa on the outskirts of Pordenone. Nestled in the greenery of a forested region that was first settled in the 19th century, the home creates an immediate vacation-like atmosphere. Although this isn't one of Italy's classic resort regions, this hidden corner of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, rich with architectural remnants from earlier eras, resembles a puzzle of small settlements waiting to be discovered.
Architects Roberto Pasquali and Riccardo Tosoni from Locus Architetti have skillfully utilized these historical layers to create unique contemporary architecture. The building, originally a 19th-century rectory, underwent various modifications over time, with the most significant development being an expansion after World War II. Today, it presents itself as a volume that represents the result of different processes, culminating in an element of synthesis between old and new.
The architects added what might initially appear to be a foreign element, but upon closer inspection, it clearly references the architectural traditions of the region. Their design reinterprets the typical 'stavolo friulano' – a type of shelter where shepherds and their flocks would take refuge during bad weather – featuring a wooden structure that sits atop a base of exposed concrete and is protected by an aluminum skin. This contemporary interpretation of traditional rural architecture creates continuity with the context while simultaneously revolutionizing it.
The powerful concrete foundation supporting the contemporary villa recalls the brutalist force of famous experiments by Le Corbusier, or geographically and temporally closer, the works of Celli Tognon in Trieste. Yet it simultaneously connects to indigenous rural building traditions. The architects explain that their intervention is not limited to physical layering, but becomes a temporal layering that continues the history of the rectory without erasing its origins.
Stylistically, this project oscillates between typically European elements and overseas influences. Without knowing where this villa is located, one might almost imagine it in the Amazon rainforest or elsewhere in Brazil. Oscar Niemeyer's Casas das Canoas or Lina Bo Bardi's suspended villa come to mind when viewing the architecture from inside and out. This Brazilian touch adds an unexpected dimension to the Italian countryside setting.
The design features few colors and pure forms, highlighted by a distinctive circular skylight. The architects chose this extraordinary element because light always conveys positive emotions, especially when it breaks through and dematerializes a concrete slab like this one. Whether interpreted as an eye, a porthole, or a celestial disc that brings heaven and earth into contact, it establishes a direct relationship with the surrounding nature. This feature serves as a homage to the artistic work of James Turrell, whose works exist halfway between architecture and site-specific sculpture, creating wonder and fascination.
While the external volume overlays history to create a new dialogue, the architects explain, the interior furnishings integrate sensitively into the architectural framework and function in synergy with the existing spaces. Everything revolves around a brick-red central built-in piece of furniture that serves to merge the spaces and define and unite the living area in a harmonious way.
The interior color palette draws from the warm, velvety tones of the exterior areas: cream and brick red, including a powdery variant, characterize the walls. Flexible, modular furniture, largely created in collaboration with the Pordenone-based brand Kristalia, enlivens the living room and fits in spontaneously without being intrusive. Alongside these contemporary pieces are hints of the fifties and seventies aesthetics.
The architects have devoted special attention to the work of two contemporary artists that perfectly complement this open architecture: Matete Martini and Ludovico Bomben. Their artworks are strategically placed throughout the space, with Martini's large-format piece prominently displayed in the background of the dining area, while Bomben's gold leaf bas-relief adorns the bedroom wall.
While the living area occupies the ground floor, the sleeping area is located on the first floor, which is lighter and constructed of wood and aluminum. This level cantilevers slightly and seems to curiously reach out toward the landscape. The architects were committed to bringing greenery into the interior of the rooms, and indeed the large windows overlooking the garden illuminate the spaces like colored paintings, offering constantly changing shades and highlights.
The bedroom area appears to float above the forest, accessible via a simple oak staircase that connects the two floors. The master bedroom maintains a largely black-and-white color scheme, giving nature ample space to enter through the large windows. A Shogun light fixture by Mario Botta for Artemide provides illumination, while another Bomben bas-relief in gold leaf leans against the wall.
The bathroom embraces a gentle moss green color palette with custom-made wooden fixtures. Plants both inside and outside the windows intensify the relaxing atmosphere, creating a spa-like environment that connects directly with the natural surroundings. A hidden workspace is cleverly concealed behind a wall cabinet, furnished with a chair from Kristalia, demonstrating the thoughtful space planning throughout the home.
This architectural intervention represents more than just a renovation; it creates a new dialogue between past and present, between architecture and landscape, and between tradition and innovation. The villa stands as a testament to how contemporary design can respectfully honor historical context while creating spaces perfectly suited for modern living in harmony with nature.
