In an Ancient Italian Town, This 592-Square

Architect Davide Andracco was one of very few people who saw this 592-square-foot home in Imperia, an ancient Italian town in the province of Liguria, as anything other than a hopeless ruin. “It was in really bad shape, but I sensed its potential,” he says. When his future client, a Swiss teacher who fell in love with the Italian Riviera, walked into his office, even she was skeptical. “Many people were,” he continues. “It was an abandoned and damp property, but I convinced her. Now she’s happy.” The former ruin, current happy place is in Parasio, the historic heart of Imperia, a town comprised of labyrinthine narrow streets overlooking the sea that remains untouched by mass tourism. The building, dating back to the 17th century, is no grand palazzo—instead, it looks like a typical modest home found in many Ligurian villages with its stone walls, chestnut beams, and many different levels. Andracco paid special attention to emphasizing natural light in the space, but that was just one of his main focuses when turning this home into an inviting retreat. A cistern becomes a study, and other design tweaks Andracco uncovered a few surprises during his restoration work, the first being a large cistern under the floor. “It was probably used for collecting water; they are often found in similar buildings,” explains the architect of the waterproof, underground tank. “It allowed us to create a bigger space because we previously had limited headroom—and in the historic center [of Imperia], you normally aren’t allowed to make additions to houses.” The space where the cistern once was is now a cool, quiet corner of the home, a small study set below the main floor. The second surprise was in the entrance to the building, where Andracco’s firm wanted to build a new kitchen. “When we walked into the building, we noticed a sloped ceiling and we wondered what might be above it,” the architect said. “That’s when we found an additional space. We added a level there, large enough for a bed or a desk.” Ups and downs Touring through the home is sort of like a small-scale roller coaster track you navigate on foot. The home’s entry is a few inches below street level, and from there you ascend to a suspended platform, descend again to the living area, slip into the former cistern, and climb back up to the sleeping area, where a final turn takes you to the bathroom. There are a total of six different levels compressed into 592 square feet (a huge feat in a small space). Exposed stone walls and preserved beams abound throughout, and an original structural column is a prominent feature in the living area. “I had to install walls in some areas because of moisture, which the client was very concerned about,” says Andracco, who would have otherwise preferred to showcase even more of the original surfaces. “Especially in the bathroom," he confides. "There were beautiful bricks—but I respected the homeowner’s request.” A mystical addition Considering how many smaller spaces this apartment was divided into, the interior is surprisingly light and uniform. Andracco managed to create continuity by relying on a limited material palette for floors and other surfaces. Stone is one of them: the sofa is carved out of a masonry base, a small staircase reveals exposed rock, and the bathroom’s bricks are original. As for light, through all the windows, sunshine streams in, amplifying the space’s depth and illuminating the home’s charming irregularities. The owner added a few decorative flourishes of her own: after an acquaintance warned her about the potential harms of radiation, she requested Barite stones be specially shipped in from her native Switzerland to use in the renovation. With its high barium content, the dense rock is said to shield against X-rays, gamma rays, chemicals, and corrosion. The rock is also believed to activate the third eye and the crown chakra, helping people tap into their psychic abilities. In short, it’s a stone associated with clairvoyance. “We embedded [barite] in a small cemented strip in front of the living room window,” says Andracco. “You can’t see them, but they’re there.” Perhaps the stones are part of why a calm silence settles over this little space, transforming it into a perfect refuge. This small space in an ancient Italian town was originally published in AD Italy.