Villa Modda by Depaolidefranceschibaldan Architetti
Villa Modda, located in Noto, Italy, is a house designed by Depaolidefranceschibaldan Architetti , harmoniously blending new and old elements through its architecture. The building features a careful recovery of an ancient agricultural ruin and a dynamic series of spaces that open to the surrounding Mediterranean landscape, while the strategic use of limestone and traditional techniques reflects its commitment to bioclimatic factors and historical context.
About villa Modda
Nestled in the countryside of the Val di Noto, Villa Modda takes its name from a wild plant typical of the area, a symbol of the deep connection with the surrounding Mediterranean rural landscape.
The architectural intervention starts from the recovery of an ancient agricultural ruin with a double-pitched roof, preserved and integrated with a new structure characterized by essential and rigorous geometries.
From the original drying room – now evoked by a circular concrete platform – a pedestrian axis runs through the entire villa, separating the living area, overlooking the pool and equipped with outdoor living and dining spaces, from the more private area with bedrooms and service rooms.
The existing building, made of rough ashlars of Noto stone, is embraced by the new extension, clad in brown earthenware, a reminder of the earth and the fruits of the countryside such as carob. The rough texture of the stone blocks generates striking plays of light and shadow, while the lime-based earthenware, enriched with natural pigments, reinforces the integration with the landscape context.
The heart of the living area is a large container volume, covered in deep yellow glazed terracotta tiles, which organizes the interior spaces: it houses the kitchen wall units in the dining room and a large fireplace in the living room, next to the lowered island intended for relaxation.
Iron gratings allow for the regulation of natural light and ventilation, transforming the villa into an organism capable of opening up or isolating itself as needed. The infinity pool, clad in emerald green ceramic mosaic, blends harmoniously with the hillside profile and hues of the surrounding landscape.
Villa Modda is part of a larger project to restore rural ruins while respecting the landscape and bioclimatic factors, guided by the use of natural materials and traditional technologies.
Photography courtesy of Depaolidefranceschibaldan Architetti
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