The restoration and redevelopment of a barchessa in Mantua transforms an abandoned agricultural building into a refined and spacious home in Mantua, Italy. Architect Giulia Prandi works with the existing brick structure, adding new steel and wood elements to organize family life while keeping the original rural character intact. The result is a peaceful home environment, where the historic masonry, warm light, and measured contemporary interventions interact harmoniously.
TerraSense Mountain Charm Retreat stands within the rugged Serra da Estrela landscape in Guarda, Portugal, reworking two pre-existing houses into a rural refuge by DRK Architects. The retreat aligns strict environmental protections with a clear architectural gesture, using schist and exposed concrete to connect a hotel setting with the surrounding mountains. Guests move through rooms that retain echoes of former homes while opening toward long views and a slower rhythm of stay.
Larco sits on the soft green hills above Piegaro, Italy, reworked by Special Italy – Special Umbria as a compact yet open country house. The two-bedroom retreat keeps the bones of a 16th century farmhouse while leaning into 21st century comfort, from heated pool to covered terrace. Guests move between cotto floors, resin surfaces and wide garden views that anchor daily life in the Umbrian landscape.
