Private House Nardò, Italy

This late 19th-century building, uninhabited for over thirty years, was valued for its emotional significance rather than its architectural qualities. The project therefore adopts a conservative restoration approach, avoiding invasive interventions and preserving the house’s authentic character and traces of time. The design establishes a balance between interior and exterior spaces, similar in size and arranged over three levels. Openings, passages and cuts redefine spatial fluidity, allowing natural light to move through the rooms, enhancing depth and texture throughout the day. The wall palette—poetic blues and warm sepia tones—highlights the original decorative elements, creating a narrative continuity that also integrates newly designed contemporary areas such as the kitchen and study. A defining aspect lies in the finishes, crafted by local artisans: lime-plastered walls, custom cement tiles, carefully restored flooring and imposing vaulted ceilings brought back to their original character. These interventions restore identity, harmony and a renewed presence to the home.