Under the cone

A CONTEMPORARY REINTERPRETATION OF THE ANCIENT TRULLI, AMIDST THE OLIVE TREES OF THE COUNTRYSIDE OF OSTUNI.

A fatal encounter, by chance. Sonia Cocozza and Paolo Verde, the former an architecture and design journalist, the latter an entrepreneur, use this phrase to describe the initial impact of Val d’Itria, an extraordinary part of Apulia. They immediately thought about finding a house there, persuaded by the bright white villages, the gentle hills. As often happens, it was as if the house had found them, not vice versa. A small cluster of trulli on a hillside studded with olive trees. In the background, prickly pear cacti and vineyards. Extensive work was required to transform the place into a summer haven with a magical aura. The characteristic conical roofs needed careful restoration, dismantled and reassembled like a construction game. Other “cones” were added, using the traditional methods. For Sonia, respect for this rural complex meant creating a synthesis of cultural heritage and personal vision. One of the main criteria was to have all the spaces in open contact with nature; another was simplicity, and a third was the use of local materials and techniques. Finally, there was the desire to experiment, adding glamorous touches to the design solutions. «With these trulli», Sonia says, «I had a chance to enjoy operating as an interior stylist. I wanted spontaneous spaces. These rural buildings are the result of an architecture of necessity; they are minimal, but full of potential. Listening to the place was important. Every room tells a story». The circular form of the trullo dictated functional and aesthetic rules. The architecture is there, but it is soft, understated, like the forms of nature. The material choices enhance the spontaneous structure of the buildings. The typical local limestone used for the original floor of the alcove has been joined by coatings of cement. Painted iron now clads, cuts and carves the external steps of the old alcove, masonry hearths and niches, deep window frames, wardrobes. The furnishings are harmonious, never invasive, oriented towards design and innovative crafts. Local roots are also reflected in an installation by the artist-architect Camilla Castaldo, based on an idea by Sonia. «I wanted the spirit of Apulia to clearly stand out everywhere. The interiors seemed to fit the bill, but for the outdoor zones I needed new stimuli, combining landscape with the history and culture of the territory». So with Studio Talent of Ostuni, a green project was developed, framing the traditional white structures.