Villa in Sicily by DAP Studio in Piedimonte Etneo, Italy

Project: Villa in Sicily
Architects: DAP Studio
Location: Piedimonte Etneo, Sicily, Italy
Area: 968 sq ft
Photography: Lamberto Rubino

Villa in Sicily by DAP Studio

DAP Studio designed the project of a villa in Sicily located in the municipality of Piedimonte Etneo on the Italian island of Sicily. This luxurious villa is designed as a single-story residence with an area of approximately 1000 square feet, but all internal spaces are carefully planned to maximize the available space. Additionally, it extends into a landscaped area and a beautiful pool with endless views.

The project for this single-story home with large windows overlooking nature is located in the captivating landscape of northeastern Sicily, between citrus groves and volcanic ash. Originally, the project was intended to only renovate the external areas around the main house in the center of a large agricultural area. Additionally, a pool was located several dozen meters away to complete it, situated in a partially underground barn.

Therefore, the proposal was to improve this seemingly secondary area and transform it into a complementary building, a living space and a hospitality area. A cozy refuge and an observatory above the landscape. The fusion of architecture and nature is the foundation of the project, with several elegant design elements serving to define internal spaces while maintaining a strong visual and material continuity with the surrounding landscape.

The result is a small building located on the slope of a hill, with a pool roof and large windows overlooking the surroundings. The back window positioning creates a covered terrace with balcony slats that, thanks to a sliding, rotating and folding system of structural modules, can be closed, partially light-filtering at various angles or fully open. The technical space serving the pool (adjacent to living areas) is enclosed by a fixed vertical paneling that integrates with the sun protection system, creating a continuous facade.

The living space is continuous, defined by several elements that smoothly delineate different functional zones. Living and sleeping spaces are separated by furniture elements and sliding panels. A limited number of materials were used inside that reflect those outside: wood as wall cladding and ceiling grille; lava stone covers the back wall, continuing the external dry-stone walls; grey gravel flooring recalls the gravel present in the garden.

–DAP Studio