Podere 62

A 1930s farmhouse transformed into a cozy country home.

Presicci + Pantanella D’Ettorre Architetti completed the Farmhouse 62 (Podere 62) project for a young family who had moved from London to Tuscany. Located in the countryside in San Donato, Italy, the existing building was originally build in the 1930s, alongside a series of identical farmhouses. Over the years and various interventions, however, the house lost its character. The project involved not only the creation of a cozy country home, but also the restoration of the modern farmhouse’s vernacular appearance. The property comprises a two-story main house with a rectangular floor plan. On the north façade, a semicircular volume contains the staircase. An annex building with one level served in the past as a barn and storage room for tools.

The architects renovated the entire complex and brought its rustic identity back to life while also designing modern and comfortable living spaces for the young family with two children. The team preserved the original layout but greatly improved the connection between different areas. Clear geometric shapes and neutral colors create simple, refined and warm spaces. Arched doorways and nooks complement angular forms and clean lines. Windows bring natural light into the living spaces and also frame views of the Tuscan countryside. A spiral staircase leads to the upper floor and to a bedroom that opens to a balcony. The studio used a warm palette throughout, favoring locally sourced and natural materials. Apart from solid wood, the materials also include tactile travertine and rough terracotta. Photography © Lorenzo Zandri.