Fortunato Simone Pontello, an architect from Florence, has been devoted to the Tuscan countryside ever since he was a child (he currently lives with his family between Fiesole and Volpaia). For several years he has nurtured an affinity for the contrast between the functional aspect of domestic buildings and the modern appeal to radically new ideas, while never abandoning age-old traditions. With a keen passion for structural and material preservation and restoration together with an equally passionate approach to historical artefacts, the right balance is found between comfort and a contemporary, yet fully eco-sustainable, reality.
Regarding the basic structure, the original stone masonry and its context are studied and preserved, paying particular attention to the surrounding environment and the native plant life, such as the wild roses and jasmine. New life is breathed into old spaces, creating a continuity between the exterior and the interior. Local stone is used for walls, alternating with recycled wood and light-coloured stone for flooring, giving the entire space a unique and harmonious aura where one can continue to experience the countryside with its ever-changing seasons wherever one lives. As a refuge from the summer heat, the focal point of each property is the swimming pool, Pontellos architectural leitmotif.
While hiding todays technological...