by picturesque in Puglia
Based in Barcelona Studio Andreas Trotter reveals a newly completed renovation called ‘Casolare Scarani’, far out in the countryside of Puglia. The project came about after the architect and his friend discovered the historical House happened to be driving through Carovigno and recognized it from an advertisement. ‘The house was beautiful, old, with so much character and not too big.’ Trotter tells design boom.
Despite years of neglect, the house had an undeniable charm with its rustic stonework and dramatic interior vaulting. The two friends decided to sensitively revitalize the home through a modern lens to make it a tranquil retreat in the Italian countryside.
Pictures © Salva Lopez | @salvalopez
Casolare Scarani: the farmer’s villa
Studio Andrew Trotter’s Casolare Scarani is located in the Puglia countryside. This area is typically dotted with small lamia, stone sheds used to store tools, and large masserias, historic farmhouses that were once owned by wealthy landowners. ‘It was quite unusual to come across a building that was in the style of a masseria but the size of a small villa,’ Studio Founder Andrew Trotter explains.
‘We found out that the building was originally a girls’ school and had a long history with the locals. It was abandoned in the early 1960’s and we have lovingly brought it back to life. This one was a gem.’
While the design team was considering other projects when they discovered the house in Puglia, they decided not to buy it for themselves. Instead, they recommended it to their clients, who, as the architects knew, had fallen in love with it. After nine months of renovation, Casolare Scarani was completed.
the renovation by studio andrew trotter
Studio Andrew Trotter sensitively renovated the historic Italian farmhouse, taking care to preserve as much of the exterior patina as possible. Along with the client, the team spent days scraping away years of peeling paint and exposing the portico’s beautiful stone. The interiors were entirely plastered and a local craftsman was hired to make his own lime plaster and lime paint. Along the pavement, the old stones have been repositioned and new Chianca stones have been added to match. In the meantime the original garage has been converted into a kitchen, the donkey house has been converted into a laundry room and two new blocks have been added at the back of the house for two bedroom suites.
Star vault in the living room is carefully preserved 
The flaking interior surfaces were removed and replastered
A local craftsman was hired to mix lime plaster and paint
