Studio Associato di Zio-di Clemente was hired by Hotel Sextantio to restore the village and landscape of the Italian "ghost town" of Santo Stefano di Sessanio (near L'Aquila). The result is a collection of incomparable accommodations that are both simple and rustic, restored with the utmost authenticity of craft in mind:
We love the materials, simple furnishings, and surprising contemporary bathrooms blended expertly into the old village's spaces. The project, in fact, was completed so sensitively that in 2008 it was awarded a conservation prize by Italy's Premio Architettura Sostenibile.
It's amazing to identify in the before images things like masonry openings and quality of light that are so inherent to the spaces that they remain after restoration. See much more of the rooms and info on booking at Hotel Sextantio.
Images: via Premio Architettura Sostenibile
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This is a beautiful thing they have done! The US could learn much from Europe's appreciation for things aged by time and their sensitivity to preservation and restoration.
Absolutely enchanting - I've never seen anything quite like it. Beautiful.
it seems to exude a sort of quiet gratitude and a spirit of simplicity, having only the bare essentials. It would be so wonderful to be able to create a space such as this and call it home.
that is bloody amazing, nice job.
Very cool! not a fan of the extra aging on the walls because the layout is soo cool! Loves the rustic and sensual curves.
beauty like that makes me dizzy...sigh!
this is so beautiful! Santo Stefano is one of my favorite places in the world! Following the earthquake, there has been alot of fabulous restoration.
"The US could learn much from Europe's appreciation for things aged by time and their sensitivity to preservation and restoration."
Considering that most domestic buildings in America over the past 300 years have been framed in wood - which is susceptible to rot, mold and termite infestations...
...whereas over the past millenia buildings such as this have been constructed of masonry and stone which has only occassional seismic activity as it's downfall (no pun intended) - it was likely more expedient to reuse the existing structure than start anew.
now I'm curios, why in US is so much built with framed wood and plasterboard?
I don't think that US has a lack of clay or stone materials. Or I'm wrong?
"why in US is so much built with framed wood and plasterboard?"
In the Colonial era, there weren't people available to work in quarries to cut, dress and transport stone - and roads to transport it were relatively non-existant...
...however wood was plentiful and cheap, easy to transport via rivers and horsecart, and easy for unskilled labor to cut into useful pieces with simple hand tools.
In addition, the first people who came over were farmers, merchants and sailors - not stone masons. Sailors in particular already knew how to work with wood and cloth since that's what they did in the old country.
Even had there had been skilled stone masons among them - a small stone house might take months of work by a large team of people whereas a log cabin could be cut and built by two men within a few weeks - providing them with quick shelters and allowing time to accomplish other things such as tending to crops and livestock.
Log cabins became larger and more refined over the decades as there was more labor and better tools to cut lumber - and the progression from all wood houses to houses with hand-troweled plaster walls eventually led to wooden framed houses with plasterboard walls.
Yes, there are brick houses and stone-covered buildings - but these have always been reserved for wealthier folks due to their added expense. The greatest amount of enclosed volume for the money has always been a wood- frame house.
"why in US is so much built with framed wood and plasterboard?"
Let me add that most of American homes were built after the Industrial Revolution, so in the US, wood frame houses permitted "the American Dream" of everyone being able to own a house of their own, rather than sharing with large families or renting, as in many other countries. (Not to say everyone in American HAS that particular dream, or that we all own our own homes, but wood frame is far more affordable and feasible than stone.)
Thanks to all for comments and information!
@bepsf, your explanation makes perfect sense, I hadn't though about it.
@Ansela, bepsf mentioned "is susceptible to rot, mold and termite infestations... " and you added fire...
The Parthenon is 2500 years old and the Colosseum 2000. I don't know of many still surviving wooden structures that are that old (I mean anywhere in the world).
@ SherryBinNH
Probably you are right with the American Dream.
Just a little detail: the Industrial Revolution started in UK around 1780 with full development depending on author between 1830-40. In US some years later.
The term American Dream was first mentioned as such in 1930 as far as I know.
The after (first bedroom) looks like a Vermeer! Incredible light.
I think the structure is great, but the dinginess would freak my germaphobe brain out, so there is no way I could stay there.