Casa De Nittis
Cisternino, 2011
The typical houses of the Mediterranean region with internal courtyards have historically been known as “masserie” in Puglia. Combining accommodation with agricultural activity, they provided inspiration for this project that reinterprets both their formal and cultural content. This three-storey building follows the topography of its site. The blind front aspect consists of a dual façade that is open at the top to allow the raking light of the sun to make the internal stone wall vibrate when at its highest. The articulation of the façade creates a porch without vertical load-bearing elements that serves as a filter between the external and internal space.
The entrance appears as you approach the building: a gap in the façade leads into a double-height living room that opens onto the internal garden overlooked by the other living areas.
The casing is made from extremely thick masonry that, in addition to providing the building with its formal “Mediterranean” character, makes it thermally inert.