202 FLEXFORM | PAPER
Anima rurale. La forma della casa si ispira a quella delle stalle, di cui riprende il volume allungato
distillandolo in un edificio di grande raffinatezza. Poltrone Echoes, tavolini Fly e Cesta. | Rural spirit.
The house is shaped like a barn, hence its elongated rectangular form, distilled into a strikingly
sophisticated home. Echoes armchairs, Fly side tables and Cesta.
R
arely do you find coun-
try 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 unpre-
tentious home, nestled in the scenic Val Tidone
countryside: a space that exudes timeless nat-
ural elegance, in harmony with the aesthet-
ic values that are part of the Flexform DNA.
Making it the perfect location to host its collec-
tions, in an interplay of elective affinities. The
client is a Milanese professional, whose long-
time fancy for this special area began when she
visited friends nearby.
Initially, the idea was to purchase an exist-
ing 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 wish-
es. 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 cli-
ent’s eye. At first, the idea was to use prefabricat-
ed components. That was soon ruled out in favor
of traditional methods that would ensure supe-
rior energy efficiency (a specific client request)
without, however, increasing construction costs.
A key focus of the entire project was sustaina-
bility - 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 arche-
type 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 re-
quires no maintenance and, as it ages, will
weather to a silver-grey, blending into the envi-
ronment. When closed, even the completely flush
doors and windows disappear into the facade.
The structure of the wood roof is clad in corru-
gated panels made with natural materials.
«The home is all on one floor and is divid-
ed into a living area and a sleeping area but,
thanks to the central axis, these spaces are al-
ways connected,» explains Koster. «The heart
of the home, with the fireplace, includes a large
kitchen and dining area that opens onto the par-
tially covered patio. Large living room windows
overlook the valley, including a picture window
that frames the natural landscape like a paint-
ing. The four bedrooms all have en-suite bath
and ceiling-height doors for direct access to the
surrounding gardens. Through the use of natu-
ral 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 de-
sign the green spaces, brilliant landscape ar-
chitect 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.
