An exquisite Mediterranean retreat in Italy and a dammuso like no other

There are lots of beautiful places to visit in Italy, most of them in the major cities. But for those that want something different and wish to escape the hotels and to spend a more relaxing vacation, there are other alternatives as well. Casa Albanese is one of them.Casa Albanese is a dammuso, a construction typically found in Sicily which consists of a cave natural expanded over the centuries and used generally as a local service.

Modern Italy house16

Completed in 1998, the project resulted in the creation of an amazing Mediterranean retreat. Found on the island of Pantelleria in Italy, this place was designed by Italian architects ASA Studio Albanese. The project consisted in the restoration and transformation of the original dammuso. Built with double dry-masonry walls in lavic stone and obsidian, there were severe level variations and they were each marked by a wall.

Modern Italy house16
Modern Italy house16
Modern Italy house16
Modern Italy house16
Modern Italy house16
Modern Italy house16
Modern Italy house16
Modern Italy house16
Modern Italy house16
Modern Italy house16
Modern Italy house16
Modern Italy house16
Modern Italy house16
Modern Italy house16
Modern Italy house16

The surrounding landscape is very beautiful and includes Mediterranean vegetation with grapevines, olives, holm oaks and prickly pear cacti. The architects had to restore multiple dammusi, most of which were partially ruined. They added a series of new spaces using the original construction techniques. For the interior they used a palette of materials that includes mainly stone. The internal and external spaces are organized around a sequence of enclosed courtyards and there’s a sense of openness that characterizes the entire area.