A villa by local architecture studio Margine, Casa Ulìa's minimalist exterior of white render and local cobblestones references the traditional architecture of Italy's Salento region.
Named Casa Uria (House of Olives) after the trees on the property, this 480 square meter residence was completed near Lecce for a couple who wanted an “oasis of peace” away from city life. .
Casa Uria is inspired by the architecture of the Salento region
To reduce the home's visual impact on the site, Margin limited it to one story above ground, including living spaces and bedrooms, with a basement for event space, a spa, and a garage.
Carefully placed openings in the pared-down exterior frame the countryside views, while perforated brick screens draw light into the home's lower level.
A tall fireplace is the focal point of the living room
“As if hidden in the shadow of centuries-old olive trees, Casa Uria utilizes the underground space to maintain a purely horizontal development on two levels,” Margin explained. .
Casa Uria is divided into two blocks. The linear space on the east side houses the living, dining and kitchen spaces, while the square block on the west side has three bedrooms and a bathroom.
The villa has a wooden kitchen
A fireplace atop a marble tiled pedestal is the focal point of the living area between the wood-lined kitchen and a separate study space.
There is a horizontal window above the kitchen counter that offers views of the landscape. In the living area, sliding glass doors open onto a sheltered patio under a concrete pergola.
For the paving of this terrace, the margins were made of local Leccese stone. Together with the minimalist white exterior, this “reflects the heritage of the area,” the studio said.
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“A large central fireplace, the heart of the villa, completes the living room by uniting the dining and living areas, enveloping guests in a cozy and cheerful atmosphere,” the studio said.
“Glass windows etched into the panels frame the landscape and give the feeling of cooking outdoors,” he added.
The patio is shaded by a concrete pergola
There are three routes into the basement level space: a vehicle access ramp and garage at the rear of the house, a curved external staircase, and an internal staircase in the center of the plan.
The minimalist, clean lines of the exterior are carried through to Casa Uria's interior, with plain white walls and fluted wood paneling in the bedrooms.
The bedroom is lined with wooden panels
“The house stands out for its essential lines and sophisticated use of materials, with the bathrooms also covered in white plaster and stone-effect stoneware floors,” the studio said.
“The use of large formats provides continuity to the surfaces and promotes minimalism throughout the design.”
External stairs provide access to the basement floor
Elsewhere in Italy, British studio Jonathan Tuckey Design recently restored and expanded a historic farmhouse to create a family home, while JM Architecture used glossy white concrete panels. and covered a villa with a pentagonal plan.
Photographed by Marcello Mariana.