Author(s): Mark Rocksams

Design

Located on Italy's sun-drenched southeast coast, the unique and rustic interiors of Puglia's ancient Masserie buildings speak of a historic past and are inspiring to all those who love rustic living. Surrounded by verdant vineyards and groves of olive trees, the Masserie of Puglia fortified domestic structures of brick, stone, and concrete dating from the Middle Ages embody a rich cultural past largely unexplored by the tourists and villa-seekers of Tuscany. Once serving as farmhouses and way stations for those traveling along the Via Appia, these buildings have been renovated to serve as private residences or boutique hotels, with their beautifully preserved interiors thoughtfully adapted and turned into a cool serenity. With striking photography by Mark Roskams, this book offers a previously unseen look into these spaces. Simultaneously austere and luxurious, the simple yet spacious rooms retain their original charm, including stone kitchen fireplaces, churchlike arched hallways, and magnificent marble floors. The rustic reds, golden yellows, and cornflower blues of classic Italy are surprising when set against the dazzlingly white backdrops of medieval stucco and stone. Richly contextualized with original essays by architect and scholar Diane Lewis, this volume will inspire interior lovers with the details of this unique and rustic architectural style.