To the east of Rome, situated between the Adriatic Sea and the Apennine Mountain range the little known region of Abruzzo offers a wild and rugged landscape not found anywhere else in Italy.
The narrow coastline of sandy beaches quickly rises towards the mountains where ancient villages, historic churches and abandoned castles cling to steep hilltops and the colours here are limited. Cobalt blue from the Adriatic, dark silver-green of ancient olive groves, stony grey tones of old ruins and the sharp black and white of the Apennines.
This simple palette inspired the design for this contemporary Mountain House. Grey travertine, dark wood surfaces, exposed concrete and white walls reflect the muted tones of Abruzzo. the countryside, a picturesque lake in the valley below and the majestic rise of the Maiella mountains to the West. Replacing a small, dilapidated farmstead, the new building recreates the simplicity and relative inwardness of local houses in a region where hot summers are followed by cold and snowy winters.
The approach to the house echoes its austere setting with a single opening marking the entrance in an otherwise solid façade. Stone salvaged from the original farmhouse grounds the building and the black render of the inserted box not only allows it to blend into the mountain background but resulted in the locals aptly naming it CASA NERA.
Inside the building opens up to unhindered views across the countryside, a picturesque lake in the valley below and the majestic rise of the Maiella mountains to the West.