Masseria Finolio

Masseria Finolio is situated in the countryside around Monopoli, in an area characterised by the presence of farm complexes that have historically shaped the agricultural landscape of the coastal Murgia. The complex is situated between the Murge plateau and the coastline, in an area characterised by the presence of calcarenite, an easily workable material that has encouraged the spread of farmsteads with underground or semi-underground oil mills – places naturally suited to the production and storage of olive oil. The original structure is spread over two levels: a main above-ground section and an underground system carved directly into the rock face. The latter preserves the memory of the ancient production cycle, with interconnected rooms dedicated to olive oil processing, ancillary functions and the day-to-day operations of the oil mill. The restoration project stems from a desire to restore continuity to a site deeply rooted in the Apulian landscape, reclaiming its historical, structural and material identity through an intervention that interprets the existing heritage with a contemporary architectural vision which enhances and enriches the layers of its evolutionary process right up to the present day. Through a meticulous investigative process, supported by laser-scanning surveys and structural and geological analyses, the project defined a programme of works compatible with the original construction characteristics. The repurposing of the complex breathes new life into the spaces, whilst respecting their original purpose. The new interventions have followed the principles of recognisability and reversibility, whilst on the existing structures, through the removal of later additions, the adaptation and refurbishment of the extensions, and the restoration of material continuity, the purity of the original volumes and forms that characterise this architectural style has been recovered and enhanced. The upper floors have been designated for residential and hospitality use, whilst the underground spaces have regained their communal role as venues for socialising, culture and the heritage of olive oil production. Within the underground oil mill, a system of metal structures ensures the safety of the spaces without altering their spatial and material character. The new structure, deliberately distinctive, engages with the historic fabric without imitating it: it defines the partitions of the new user spaces, highlights the characteristic historic elements, and serves as a support structure for the electrical and lighting systems, formally establishing a balance between history and the present. The project is completed by the restoration of the external landscape through the redefinition of open spaces and the redevelopment of the Mediterranean garden in the traditional form of an enclosed vegetable garden, re-establishing the original relationship between architecture, vegetation and the ground. The project is completed by the restoration of the outdoor landscape through the redefinition of open spaces and the redevelopment of the Mediterranean garden in the traditional form of an enclosed vegetable garden, re-establishing the original relationship between architecture, vegetation and the ground. Masseria Finolio interprets restoration not as the mere preservation of what already exists, but as a collaborative process of cultural and spatial revitalisation, capable of uniting memory and the contemporary, breathing new life into rural architecture through a balance between the preservation of materials, the quality of space and the enhancement of the landscape. The virtuous synergy between the design studio’s vision, the client’s sensitivity and active involvement in the project, and the contractor’s masterful execution has transformed the building site into a workshop of fine craftsmanship and engineering rigour, ensuring a perfect alignment between the design concept and the quality of the executed detail.