natural stone + wooden infills realize mediterranean house at the foot of mount amiata, italy

surrounded by an olive grove at the foot of mount amiata in italy, HV pavillon is a residential project by gardini gibertini architects (GGA) emerging amid the lush landscape in a theatrical way. showcasing a typical mediterranean architecture, the structure faces the idea of a house in its more archaic typological and construction principles, while still being contemporary. raised off the ground, the stone and concrete dwelling blends into its surroundings while framing generous views towards the natural setting. 

the house amid the lush landscape of the maremma region in tuscany 
all images courtesy of ezio manciucca

the building by gardini gibertini architects (GGA) serves as a spatial mechanism for admiring the surrounding nature claiming its belonging to the place and to its secular history. eight structural boxes placed on a reinforced concrete platform support the massive stone roofing, configuring the rooms of the house in a geometric way around a central patio of roman-italic reminiscence: the ‘atrium tusculanum’. the interior is just structure and raw material to celebrate the contemporary approach to detail solutions.

the south facade

the floor is made of cement resin and has the color of ‘sunburnt grass in the hottest months and brown leaves in autumn’ as the GGA team mentions. natural wood completes the interior and all furnishing elements are custom-designed. a steel island solves the kitchen which together with the monumental concrete table cast in place celebrate the ritual of italian cuisine, while highlighting the convivial character of the house.

detail of the facade

the exterior of the residence adopts a rigorous geometry, compact and cohesive in its proportions, which honours the local country building tradition of ‘dry stone’ walls on anthropized soil. at the same time, the wood infills recall the locking elements of the traditional rural buildings called ‘seccatoi’ – dryers for chestnuts -. in this way, the building merges with the landscape and ties it profoundly into its own history.

north facade

east facade

the patio

the kitchen

the dining area

the living area

one of the restrooms

detail of the master bedroom

project info:

name: HV pavillon
architects: gardini gibertini architects (GGA)
location: italy
area: 230 sqm (2475 sqft)

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edited by: myrto katsikopoulou | designboom