Ingenious interventions have transformed the Effegi House, a tiny residence situated in a traditional Tuscan village, into a highly contemporary sanctuary away from everyday life. Architects Archiplan Studio have made small but telling changes to create an unlikely sense of spaciousness.
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You'd hardly notice the knowingly rusted steel gate that gives access to the Effegi House on a narrow road in the tranquil Tuscan village of Trequanda. That's the way the architects have planned it. The gate is characteristic of their approach: bold, yet respectful of this historic building and its surroundings.
A split level deck takes care of the difference in height between the street and the home's entrance, under a bricked arch. Inside, a built-in day bed, designed at an angle to accommodate the living area's asymmetrical dimensions, adjoins the fireplace. Simple black panels define a kitchen area.
Upstairs a sculptural sink provides a point of interest in the bedroom. A sliding wardrobe door reveals both a shower and a toilet. Everywhere, brick is left exposed, celebrating the building's age and its materials.
What's striking about this renovation is the ease with which the new co-exists with the old. A subtle triumph.
Images by Davide Galli
Looking for another alternative hideaway? Then you need to see Atelier Kunc Architects’ Czech retreat that merges Scandinavian and Japanese influences.