Villa is a house ‘without perimeters’
$1.8M Italian residence has 17th-century roots on the Sorrento coast
An ancient olive oil mill in southern Italy seems an unlikely spot to wait out a pandemic. But it’s perfectly suited to the role, with vaulted ceilings, open doorways and an endless expanse of hills and sea that offer a sense of freedom rather than confinement.
Of course, the idea of escaping a deadly virus wasn’t a factor when the 17th-century building, 40 kilometres south of Naples, was restored and converted into a four-bedroom villa. But it was a fortuitous move, given that Italy became one of the countries hit hardest by COVID-19.
“It is not a traditional home,” listing agent Sabrina Majello said, calling the conversion “unusual.”
“It’s a house without perimeters. The continuity from the inside to the exterior and the impact of the sea view give the sense of total freedom.”
Located on a hilltop on the Sorrento coast and surrounded by three acres of terraced land — some of it planted with olive groves — the villa enjoys a panorama of the Gulf of Naples to the west, Mount Vesuvius to the north and Mount Faito to the east.
The interior is equally unfettered, with curved ceilings that soar up to six metres and a freeflowing layout that allows flexible use of space.
“There are no doors, and rooms merge together in an unconventional way,” explained Majello, of Italy Sotheby’s International Realty.
Bedrooms, for example, can be used as living areas and the kitchen, which utilizes freestanding metal furnishings, can easily be reconfigured.
The original structure of limestone and tuff (a light, porous rock formed from volcanic ash) has been restored, deliberately retaining the factory proportions and raw state.
In a nod to the home’s industrial past and rural setting, the concrete walls, staircases and ceilings are left bare, warmed by whitewashed timber flooring. With sunlight pouring through oversized windows, furnishings have been kept sparse, contributing to the spaciousness. Long white curtains are used in place of doors.
Noteworthy are the natural materials of mortar and plaster that were used in the ecofriendly restoration, according to Majello.
“It seems to be incomplete and this is the most attractive detail.”
Remnants of old, oil-making equipment can still be seen in places, hearkening back to bygone days of crushing olives into paste with large millstones, followed by several stages of pressing at room temperature — called cold-pressing — settling and separation to extract the virgin oil. (It takes about five kilograms of olives to make one litre of oil.)
Divided into four levels, the building is “the perfect house for a free spirit” such as an artist or writer, Majello suggested. “Or simply someone who wants a magic place to live in, feeling the contact to nature but still being not so far away from the centre of Sorrento Coast.”
On the highest part of the site, there’s an 860-square-foot tower that could be restored and repurposed, she pointed out. A large underground cistern is still used to collect rainwater.
Typical of the Mediterranean climate, southern Italy enjoys mild winters and long, hot summers; just what olive trees like.
Centuries ago, picking olives and making oil typically involved a number of workers performing endless hours of labour.
Centuries later, that sense of working together for the common good continues — at a distance.