"Monaci delle Terre Nere” of Guido Alessandro Coffa
Project : Pekstudio associati
Architectural design: Architect Giuseppe Merendino
Planning supervisor: Architect Claudio Torrisi
Structural design: Engineer Maurizio Arcerito
The estate Monaci delle Terre Nere is located on the slopes of the Mount Etna, the biggest volcano in Europe, bordering the namesake National Park at an altitude of 500 meters.
It's a biological farm big about 17 hectares cultivated with vineyards, olive trees, fruits, vegetables and spices. Everything that grows in the property is offered to the guests so that they can taste, drink and enjoy the fruits of the rich volcanic soil.
Monaci delle Terre Nere is a boutique hotel composed of 15 rooms located in the main building and several rural outbuildings, distributed within the property. The renovation project aimed to preserve the historical and territorial identity of the original buildings.
The manor home, built in 1800, is a building that the local authority responsible for the archaeological and monumental sites has listed as building of historical and artistic importance. Inside, the traditional Sicilian architecture blends with contemporary art. For the renovation of building were applied the principles of Bio-architecture, with particular attention to the constructive aspects of the tradition.
Of particular value is the old winery adjacent to the building, where there is the impressive wine press still perfectly preserved, in addition to the tank for pressing grapes plastered with the traditional “coccio pesto”. The old stables on the sidelines of the building were recovered and used as bedrooms.
Two millstones, more modest in size, characterize two of the three rural homesteads made of lava stone, located inside the property, which have also been recovered and used as guests accomodation. Here the spatiality of the interior still remains intact , emphasizing the lava stone masonry and the natural plasters made of lime and azole.
Positioned between the citrus trees there is the infinity pool that looks down towards the shining Mediterranean in the distance.