Inside a Transformed Mediterranean Villa That Makes a Dream Holiday Home | estliving.com
Nestled in the olive groves near Carovigno, Casolare Scarani is a definitive masterclass in Modern Mediterranean Architecture and Warm Minimalism. Designed by the renowned Studio Andrew Trotter, this residence represents a sensitive restoration of an 1883 schoolhouse, balancing its historic character with the refined comforts of a modern dream holiday home. Discover more soulful Mediterranean retreats in the est living digital magazine: https://estliving.com/est-magazine/ From the outset, Casolare Scarani embodies Studio Andrew Trotter’s signature style. In the past decade, the Barcelona-based, multi-disciplinary studio have unveiled an impressive number of projects in the Puglia region. So when founder Andrew Trotter first stumbled across the villa on one of his scouting trips, he was instantly sold on its size and charm and bookmarked it for a future project. “The house was beautiful and old, with great character, and not too big. We knew we’d found a gem; we just needed the right client,” he says. Not long after, he was approached by an Australian couple looking for a summer house in the Italian countryside – and the shoe fit right away. “Puglia has such a charm because, even with all the tourism, the towns still feel like they did 20–30 years ago,” Andrew says. “They call it ‘the green house of Italy’ – rich in food and people.” Puglia’s countryside is dotted with two types of residential buildings: lamias and masserias. Traditionally, the smaller of the two, lamias, were stone sheds where local landowners could store their equipment, while the larger of the two, masserias, were where the affluent landowners lived. Casolare Scarani is a blend of the two; it possesses the style of a masseria while being the size of a lamia, which is quite unusual for the region, making it all the more desirable. Before it was abandoned in the 60s, the building operated as a school for girls, leaving quite a mark on the local community. For the past six decades, it has been left vacant, eagerly awaiting its next chapter. While the villa’s dormant period meant it was in need of some serious making over, its original charm was still easily detectable – much to both the owners’ and Studio Andrew Trotter’s delight. “Once we began to strip back the paint, we realised how well it was made, and how beautiful the old stone was,” Andrew says. “It’s very easy to go too modern with a renovation, so we tried our best not to destroy the house’s history,” Andrew says. “We spent an entire day with the owners scraping off years of flaky paint, revealing the stone underneath,” Andrew recalls. A local artisan who makes his own lime plaster was enlisted to paint the internal walls and ceilings, while the studio sourced local stone that matched the old floors perfectly. The original floor plan needed to be reconfigured, and rooms needed to be added to accommodate the new owners. Spaces like the donkey house and stable, once serving a purpose, were obsolete and so were turned into the laundry and dining space, respectively. By peeling back only what was necessary, Studio Andrew Trotter have left the owners with an authentic piece of Puglia’s past – one that will serve them well into the future. “This house has been here for over 200 years and I hope that it will remain for another 200, if not many more years,” Andrew says. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction to the Greenhouse of Italy 0:50 Renovating for the Australian Winter Escape 1:45 Revealing the History: 18th-Century Leccese Stone 3:10 Materiality: Natural Lime Plasters and Local Artisans 4:30 Respectfully Opening the Building to Light 6:00 Simple Pastry and a Certain Air of Timeless. See more here https://estliving.com/exclusive-film-... Read the full feature here: https://www.estliving.com/santa-clara... Published and produced by Miffy Coady | estliving.com Filmed and edited by Cheer Squad for est living Film project manager: Lidia Boniwell | estliving.com Editor: Sophie Lewis | estliving.com Words by Holly Beadle Read the full feature on estliving.com: https://www.estliving.com/exclusive-f... Location: Puglia, Italy Design: Studio Andrew Trotter SyncID: MB01RDOSNFLMHYB Stay in touch with est: Visit our website - https://www.estliving.com/ Read our latest digital issue of est Magazine - https://www.estliving.com/magazine/es... Your daily dose of design on Instagram - / est_living Join the conversation on Facebook - / estemag See what we're pinning on Pinterest - https://pin.it/5yxukQh Be inspired on TikTok - / est.living Connect with us on LinkedIn - / est-living Experience est in sound on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/user/6m7jaly... #holidayhomes #dreamhome #italiano #mediterranean #luxuryhomes
