From the recovery of history, the contemporary living of Casa Citerna

Casa Citerna is born from the renovation and energy requalification of a portion of a historic building, located in the Florentine Chianti area, Italy, strongly altered in its historical characteristics by the interventions suffered during the 20th century

Terracotta, lime, chestnut wood, and stone flooring

The architecture studio Officina Abitare approaches the intervention starting from the historical origin of the building, aiming to create contemporary living forms through the restoration of those historical characteristics, both in terms of spatial and structural aspects and the materials used in the renovation. Thus, the terracotta flooring, lime, stone, and chestnut wood typical of the local tradition, together with the reconstitution of that characteristic spatial continuity of ancient Chianti houses, create the atmosphere of the new Casa Citerna

New steel finished portals for ancient passages

The ground floor of Casa Citerna returns to being a continuum of spaces in sequence: from the entrance, overlooking the private garden, the connection never closed by doors towards the kitchen, dining area, and living room is celebrated by large steel finished portals. This material testifies to the contemporary renovation of the house, along with the large two-sided fireplace positioned in place of the historic one. Old openings in the perimeter walls, which had been walled up in the interventions of the 20th century, are restored for a greater influx of natural light and connection with the outside

Traditional local architectural elements for contemporary living

The sleeping area is located on the first floor, accessed by the original staircase made of "pietra serena" stone. Here, a single load-bearing wall, freed from the 20th-century constructions, distributes all the spaces: two bedrooms that remain unchanged and a suite created from two adjacent rooms. Thanks to the creation of a new large opening, the suite becomes a single fluid space that includes the master bedroom and a private study overlooking the quiet and bright rear of the house. The suite also features a new bathroom with double sink and sanitary ware, whose volume serves as a headboard for the bed, and a shower space overlooking the garden and covered in handmade traditional Impruneta terracotta tiles

Reconstruction of the original structure and energy efficiency

All the reinforced concrete floors built in the last century are demolished and rebuilt using the classic type with local chestnut wood beams and terracotta tiles, handcrafted in Impruneta. The roof has also been redone with a wooden structure and terracotta tiles, insulated with high-density wood fiber panels. In terms of energy efficiency of the house, without wanting to change its external appearance with external insulation, a lime and cork thermal plaster is applied both internally and externally, which has the advantage of maintaining the imperfections of the historic building, preserving its richness of light and shadow effects

Gallery

Photo credits
Top image, content and gallery images: Leonardo Morfini

Drawings: Officina Abitare

Designers credits
Project: Matteo Pierattini, Sara Bartolini
Construction Supervision: Matteo Pierattini
Surface: 100mq
Year end: 2023

Companies credits
Thermoplasters in lime and cork: Lime & cork / https://www.limecork.com/
Paint work in natural lime: La Calce del Brenta / https://www.lacalcedelbrenta.it/
Terracotta elements: Manetti Gusmano e figli / http://www.cottomanetti.com/
Continuous resin and lime surfaces: Saccomani design studio / https://saccomanidesignstudio.it/it/
Iron works: Made in Freak out / https://www.madeinfreakout.com/

PEOPLE

Officina Abitare

Via Cairoli, 41, Firenze, Italy