Smart Courtyard House in a Bucolic Landscape | BS House

Nestled amidst the bucolic landscape of Apulia, on the outskirts of the white city of Ostuni, this house is a kind of retreat immersed in the Valle D’Itria. A smart design, a cozy home where it’s possible to work and relax, to be connected and disconnected at the same time.

The journalist and her husband, a German entrepreneur, chose Apulia not only as a weekend getaway but as the place where they chose to live, work, think, and write. The chosen plot, in the rural area of Ostuni, is in an elevated position, with centuries-old olive trees and a beautiful view of the lush Mediterranean landscape.

The project was conceived based on the traditional typology of courtyard houses used along the Mediterranean coast since antiquity. With a C-shaped plan, this house unfolds around its central courtyard, facing north to protect the large openings from the direct sunlight of Apulia, while still offering beautiful panoramic views of the natural landscape. On the east side, spaces for common use and an office were implemented, in the central part, the dining room and kitchen, and on the west side, the master bedroom with a second office. At the western end is the guest room with independent access and services. Adjacent to the northern boundary of the property, facing the courtyard, the pool opens up to the Mediterranean landscape, also featuring bathrooms, a sauna, and a small outbuilding.

The most traditional materials of local architecture were appropriated and adapted to this architecture in a new contemporary context: stone and lime for the walls, oak wood for the frames, apricena for the floor. Inside, exposed concrete flooring was chosen for the common areas while intimate spaces were finished with wooden floorboards, and finally, the house was decorated with unique pieces of Italian furniture.

Due to its remote location, the owners expressed the need to monitor the house during their long business trips, which is why a complex KNX home automation system was installed to allow them to keep track of the house’s daily activities even from afar. Telephone systems, security systems, air conditioning, and lighting can all be meticulously controlled through specific applications. Special attention was given to the house’s energy consumption: an integrated system with heat pumps, solar panels, photovoltaics, a station for recharging electric cars, among other energy consumption monitoring systems, allows for total energy autonomy of this Smart House.

Credits:

Location: Ostuni, Italy
Architects: Reisarchitettura
Area: 170 m²
Year: 2017
Photographs: Alessandra Bello

0:00 – BS House
4:39 – Drawings

A valley with beautiful and sculptural  olive trees and a wide view amidst the   bucolic landscape of Apulia is the  setting where the BS House was built. Designed by Reisarchitettura, its architecture  is contemporary, a reinterpretation of the   traditional forms and materials of this beautiful  region in southern Italy. This makes this  

Project of simple and sober lines adequately  contextualized within this rural landscape. The architectural concept of the BS House was  inspired by the idea of a central courtyard,   historically used in the warm climate of the  southern Mediterranean as passive protection   against the sun. The house unfolds  in a “C” shape around the courtyard,  

Facing north, protecting the large  windows from strong sunlight and   providing beautiful panoramic  views of the natural landscape. Considering the owners’ need  for a permanent residence,   the project was conceived from  the beginning with a focus on   energy efficiency and sustainability,  combining passive and active solutions,  

As well as cutting-edge technologies to achieve  high standards of energy efficiency and comfort. The walls are solid, with multiple  layers to provide high thermal   insulation efficiency and substantial thermal  mass, essential for protection against heat. The living area and owner’s office occupy the east  side, while the dining area with kitchen is in the  

Center and the master bedroom with a second  office for the partner is on the west side. The most traditional materials of local  architecture have been adopted and adapted   to this architecture in a new contemporary  context: dry stone and lime plaster for   the walls, minimalist oak frames, and  Apricena stone slabs for the floors.

Polished concrete was chosen for the  living area and wood for the sleeping area. With the extensive photovoltaic system integrated  into the roof, the electricity consumption of the   house is practically reduced to zero. The  HVAC system consists of an electrically   powered heat pump. Water reservoirs are used  to store, as thermal energy, the electricity  

Produced by the photovoltaic panels under optimal  sunlight conditions, to be reused when needed. Another important feature is water consumption  optimization. An underground reservoir collects   rainwater during the rainy winter period, the  water is filtered and purified before being sent  

To the pipes. All appliances and toilets have  flow limiters and dual flush systems to prevent   water waste. With these solutions, the house is  completely independent in terms of water supply. There is a separate guest room with  independent entrance and services.

Adjacent to the northern boundary of the property,  facing the courtyard, the pool opens up to   the Mediterranean landscape, also featuring  bathrooms, a sauna, and a small outbuilding.