by Anna Vittoria Zuliani.
An ancient monastic complex has been transformed by a careful restoration work that has brought to light all its charm: elegantly minimal interiors with timeless accents, soft colors and a dreamy outdoor setting.
A real play on style, refined and at times bohemian, with material hints and nuances that blend with the lush nature around. The Vocabolo Moscatelli project was born from the meeting between Frederik Kubierschky, GM of Vocabolo Moscatelli and Jacopo Venerosi Pesciolini, partner of Archiloop. The Florentine design studio followed all aspects related to the architectural redevelopment, including interior design and hard landscape, i.e. the study of the exteriors devoted to the original raw materials of the place. The client’s desire was to recover a splendid residence abandoned for years to create a unique place, which was a demonstration of the skilled work of local workers, enriched by the presence of products of high Umbrian craftsmanship. The structure of the ancient 12th century complex that today makes up the Vocabolo Moscatelli boutique hotel: the main villa, with its back porch, the deconsecrated chapel and the agricultural annex.
The entire structure has been transformed into a boutique hotel with restaurant and is located within a complex dating back to the 12th century, originally used as a monastery by the Olivetan friars of Gubbio and currently placed under restrictions by the Superintendence. The nucleus consists of a main villa, a deconsecrated chapel and an agricultural annex. The respectful contemporary architectural intervention enhances the beauty of the ancient context, enhancing the original materials thanks to a careful restoration, although apparently “invisible” and perfectly integrated with the nature and history of the place. Externally, the project preserved the character of the building, maintaining the conservative state in which it was located; internally it has been renovated to house the restaurant, common areas and guest rooms. The exposed stone of the walls and the original pink plaster give this place warmth and preciousness. The exteriors maintain the allure of the time with exposed stone and pink plaster. The porch on the ground floor has been transformed into the restaurant room: a refined jardin d’hiver overlooking the garden.
A warm and elegant style has been preserved in the interiors: the light plaster finishes with yellow-pink shades have been designed in continuity with the colors of the old bricks and coexist with precious and warm wooden floors. Even the fixtures aesthetically communicate with the history of the location, painted in a delicate color of sage green, timeless and country chic at the same time. One of the bedrooms with a canopy bed and custom-made furnishings, where you can also notice the refined sage green finishes of the fixtures.
The “muse” of the entire restoration was uniqueness: all the bedrooms contain tailor-made furnishings and each en-suite bathroom is characterized by different shades of glazed terracotta. Wrought iron canopy beds, custom-made furniture and solid wood wardrobes have been specially created. The bathrooms have brass taps and details and neutral sanitary ware, to allow the color of the specially made terracotta tiles to stand out. One of the en-suite bathrooms of the rooms, where you can take a relaxing bath in a suggestive atmosphere.
On the cover, the fascinating manor house dating back to the Middle Ages by Vocabolo Moscatelli, the nucleus of the entire structure.The common areas and the restaurant are furnished with comfortable sofas and tables made from the old beams of the villa’s roof. The loggia has been transformed into the restaurant room, overlooking the internal fountain and a view that embraces the rich outdoor area, where the centuries-old oak tree in the garden stands out. The outdoors tells in miniature all the magic of the ancient Italian villages: the restaurant room directly overlooks the fountain and the deconsecrated chapel.
The approach to the restoration of the chapel was delicate and respectful, recovering the original floor and restoring the walls with a lime finish, in a warm natural shade. The study of light was central: it is in fact a place for ceremonies and a space for convivial events. Furthermore, the agricultural annex houses two bedrooms and two suites with a private outdoor garden, one in particular equipped with a living area with enveloping furnishings, dedicated to the preparation of the bride. One of the two suites created in the former agricultural part of the structure, with elegant interiors and a small private relaxation area outside.
The shared outdoor garden houses a swimming pool covered in red travertine, located in a raised position compared to the main house. Thanks to the color of the stone, the water shows natural shades and, thanks to its location, it is possible to enjoy a unique view towards the historical complex. The hard landscape project is the work of Archiloop with the landscape designer Fabiano Crociani. A geometric garden was created on the front, recalling the compositions of Italian gardens: it is characterized by different colors and scents thanks to the typical blooms of each season. A long iron pergola connects the buildings to the large park at the back where there is the synergistic vegetable garden, the flower and butterfly garden, and the orchard which is home to old tree varieties. Next to the orchard, in the summer season, there are tables for guests who can breathe in the scents of herbs and plants, enjoying the colors of the splendid context: a very precious miniature Italian rural village. The atmosphere is intimate and welcoming, guests enter into deep harmony with the environment which is a perfect synthesis between ancient material and contemporary sensitivity. Project by studio Archiloop – archiloop.it Photo Fabio Sem The swimming pool covered in red travertine, perfectly inserted into the lush context of the garden.
On the cover, the fascinating manor house dating back to the Middle Ages by Vocabolo Moscatelli, the nucleus of the entire structure.
