LV House

Pantelleria is a small island located between Sicily and the north African coast, renowned for its dark, volcanic rocks, its sea views and its dammusi, traditional buildings with a domed roof. This project involved the refurbishment of a very special dammuso that contained many rooms with vaulted ceilings and a section with a pitched roof that faced straight onto, and overhung, the sea.

The design proposal had two main aims: a thorough restoration of the whole building, much needed due to its location and years of neglect, and the restructuring of the property’s interior, allowing the best possible use of the available space for the client’s large family. The design fully retains the traditional local building style and expressive features whilst providing all the facilities one would expect of a comfortable buen retiro.

The warm, inviting and very contemporary interior design contrasts with the rough nature of the materials used. The interior spaces are connected, at both ends of the property, to two large outdoor terraces, which face directly onto the sea. The first, at the entrance to the house, features a small swimming pool, restored after years of neglect; the second, towards the living area of the property, is covered with a characteristic pinnata and surrounded by a ducchena, and is ideal for al fresco dining. The structure is rounded off with a small pantesco garden, surrounded by high walls to protect the plants within from the wind.