Architecture Wednesday: Ca' Giovanni

Another tiny house, though this time in Piateda, Italy, and this time even more rustic with some modern touches.’

It’s a small home now, but it has been a cattle shed, a small warehouse, and a barn dating back to the early 900s. Yes, a thousand years ago. And with such a rich history the architect preserved as much as possible of both materials and form.

On the external façades, the plaster was kept as it was, while inside it was completely removed to reveal the original stone walls, while the roof, both the supporting structure and the chestnut wood paneling and the covering layer of rusty corrugated sheet, have been restored. The interior openings have been respected by inserting wooden frames, while the floor is concrete to mimic the typical floors of the houses of the past.

On the lower level, in the portion of the building used as a stable and warehouse, was transformed into a small bar and studio. The upper floor, the original hayloft, a kitchen and a living room have been created, while the bedroom and the bathroom have taken the place of the old storage room.

The architect also designed many of the furnishings, and also crafted both the kitchen block and the fireplace of painted iron. Many of the other furnishings—chairs, armchairs, wardrobes, chandeliers—were found in the original building, restored and re-used.

It's not big, but it’s rustic and modern, with a great sense of history … and it’s Italian.

Arch Daily