Since Family Home In Italy Guarded By Citrus And Olive Trees

Located in Varapodio, a region in Italy, this house is memorable through its simplicity and its subtle way of being special. It was built in 2015 by architects Francesco Fedele and Mariangela Figliomeni on a flat and simple site and it’s surrounded by a few lovely citrus and olive trees. From the exterior, the house looks simple, compact and has a strong geometry highlighted by the two neutral colors which define the facades: grey and white.

The exterior design and architecture of the house are simple and focused on minimalist geometry
The exterior design and architecture of the house are simple and focused on minimalist geometry
Balconies and terraces engage the garden and extend the living spaces towards the outdoors
Balconies and terraces engage the garden and extend the living spaces towards the outdoors

Surprisingly, the house looks pretty closed off from the outside but that’s not exactly the impression one gets when entering it. The windows are not that big and not that many either but that’s just the first impression…look closer and you’ll see some very well-positioned openings which establish a strong and seamless connection with the outdoors and let natural light in without compromising the privacy of the indoor spaces.

The site on which the house stands preserves a series of citrus and olive trees which have become part of the landscape
The site on which the house stands preserves a series of citrus and olive trees which have become part of the landscape
The trees shade the outdoor lounge space from the garden and also provide nice views for the indoor spaces
The trees shade the outdoor lounge space from the garden and also provide nice views for the indoor spaces
Although it may not reveal this in a very obvious way, the house engages the outdoors in seamless ways
Although it may not reveal this in a very obvious way, the house engages the outdoors in seamless ways

The social zone of the house occupies the ground floor and includes the living room, kitchen and dining area. The living area has its own separate space, bring situated in a deep void which drops below the ground surface. This design creates a sunken living area with windows positioned low on the walls and a double-height ceiling which prevents the space from feeling small and cluttered.

The interior is fragmented into several different zones but even so the house is very cohesive
The interior is fragmented into several different zones but even so the house is very cohesive
The living area is quite special, featuring a double-height ceiling and a floor level which drops below the ground floor
The living area is quite special, featuring a double-height ceiling and a floor level which drops below the ground floor

The sunken living area features comfortable sofa modules, a modern fireplace with an eye-catching geometric design and a unique live-edge coffee table with a really cool and sculptural design. A low-hanging pendant light installation fills the void above the space and doubles as an eye-catching decorative feature for both floors. A staircase with floating wood steps and glass railings leads up to the private areas of the residence.

The sunken living room is still part of the open floor plan but occupies its own separate zone
The sunken living room is still part of the open floor plan but occupies its own separate zone
The fireplace is one of the focal points of this space thanks to its unusual geometry and its modern design
The fireplace is one of the focal points of this space thanks to its unusual geometry and its modern design
The rest of the social spaces have a regular ceiling height and occupy the remaining ground floor area
The rest of the social spaces have a regular ceiling height and occupy the remaining ground floor area

The rest of the common spaces occupy the remaining ground floor. The kitchen and the dining area are seamlessly connected. They share a simple interior design characterized by neutral colors, natural materials and simple textures and finishes. The kitchen island doubles as a divider and lines up perfectly with the faux ceiling installation, giving the kitchen a square-shaped floor plan.

A set of floating stairs is positioned adjacent to the sunken lounge area, connecting the ground floor to the upper level
A set of floating stairs is positioned adjacent to the sunken lounge area, connecting the ground floor to the upper level
Upstairs are the private areas of the house, arranged along an open hallway with a reading nook at one end
Upstairs are the private areas of the house, arranged along an open hallway with a reading nook at one end
The kitchen and dining area share an open space and a minimalist design reduced to neutral colors and materials
The kitchen and dining area share an open space and a minimalist design reduced to neutral colors and materials
The kitchen has a compact structure and the island acts as a divider between it and the dining space
The kitchen has a compact structure and the island acts as a divider between it and the dining space

Upstairs, the interior design of the private areas is similarly simple. Although the palette of colors and materials is once again limited to neutrals, the bedrooms also incorporate a few subtle pastel hues which complement the spaces in a very chic manner. The geometric pendant lamp, for instance, has a pastel pink finish which goes really well with the grays, the whites and the very subtle hints of brown.

The bedroom is simple too but the colors here are less cold and austere and include soft pastels
The bedroom is simple too but the colors here are less cold and austere and include soft pastels
The bedroom's interior design combines several very subtle color tones and a series of different textures
The bedroom’s interior design combines several very subtle color tones and a series of different textures

The bathrooms have their own ways of being elegant. Natural stone and tiles in earthy colors are complemented by olive wood accents, white walls and ceiling and minimalist and stylish fixtures. An oval tub and a round pendant lamp soften the masculine character of the master bathroom and mirrors installed on the walls give the impression of a larger spaces and also put an emphasis on the tile pattern features on the walls and floor.

The bathrooms mix natural stone and wood elements with soft and curvaceous forms and delicate lines
The bathrooms mix natural stone and wood elements with soft and curvaceous forms and delicate lines
Mirrors mounted on the bathroom walls create the feeling of a larger and brighter space
Mirrors mounted on the bathroom walls create the feeling of a larger and brighter space