Il Bronzetto for Villa La Marchesina, a charming apulian Masseria
A contemporary villa that evokes the charm of an ancient apulian Masseria. High expression of the ‘quiet luxury’ style trend, the project reveals once again the great ability of Il Bronzetto to create ‘custom’ objects and support interior designers and architects in the realization of their most exclusive projects
In the Apulian countryside, architect and designer Graziana Calabrese realizes a project that proposes itself as a balanced synthesis between the suggestions of contemporary and ancient beauty and concretely defines in concrete the ‘quiet luxury’ style. An established trend in interior design uniqueness, quality and sobriety.
Where
We are in the heart of the Apulian countryside, in a magical place between the wild nature of the olive trees of contrada Coccaro and the beautiful coast of Savelletri. Just a few minutes from the historic city of Fasano, well-known for its extra-luxury facilities and landscape full of ancient masserie. Here, where world leaders have recently gathered, stands out a new modern structure, that pays homage to traditional structures. In fact, during the G7 of June 2024, the delegation of the United Arab Emirates was hosted in this house.
The Villa
The villa covers an area of 600sqm and consists of 5 suites, each with private bathroom, 3 kitchens, terrace with whirlpool pool, gym, loggia, garden with citrus grove and vegetable garden. As well as a large swimming pool with solarium.
Due to its characteristics, the project is a perfect example of “Quiet Luxury”: every decorative element and materials chosen for the interiors have been carefully selected for its quality, beauty and ability to create a sophisticated, yet essential and welcoming ambience. The combination of natural materials and refined details defines an environment that is subtly luxurious, creating a feeling of discreet elegance and sophisticated intimacy.
Architect Graziana Calabrese chose to make the client the absolute protagonist, creating a sense of exclusivity through the design and realization of elements conceived and made exclusively for the project, unique pieces not available on the market.
To customize the spaces of the villa, the designer entrusted the team of the Florentine artisan workshop Il Bronzetto, creating a series of furnishings and decorations that had a link with the land of Puglia, recalling the grace and elegance of this land so rich in traditions and charm. The common thread that accompanies the entire project is the recurring ambivalence and the contrast between the simplicity of blunt, clean lines and light colors with the inspiration and creativity of striking sculptures with dark hues and intricate work.
With this project, Bronzetto once again approaches the world of art and its workmanship: for La Marchesina, in fact, the company created unusual artifacts, real sculptures such as sconces in raised and burned brass for the niches of the hall.
The areas of the Villa
The villa is developed over its length, with the living area on one side and the sleeping area on the other.
The bright entrance hall is centrally located, characterized by a brass niche housing a large sculptural wooden trunk in sharp contrast with the rest of the cabinet, in darker, more rustic solid wood.
The entrance leads immediately to the large living room, white and full of light, surrounded by large French door overlooking the monumental olive trees. A multifunctional and comfortable area, where one can relax or read in the warm light of the classic floor lamps from the Studio line by Il Bronzetto. Their natural brass finish matches the soft natural colors of the upholstery, as well as the large floor lamps in dark burnished brass with milk-colored satin glass.
The space that houses the open kitchen is characterized by recesses and columns with soft, rounded shapes, and is separated from the living room only by a decorative-functional arch-wall on which were created two luminous niches with burnt brass wall sconces representing sea foam designed by Il Bronzetto. The total white of the kitchen is interrupted only by the fittings and the dark burnished brass handles custom-made by Il Bronzetto. And by a stone island, which, like the fireplace, is made from blocks of Pietra di Trani left in their natural state that, specifically selected in the quarry from the final parts of the “banks”, i.e. where the stone block detaches from the rock, are true sculptures created by nature.
Many other details stand out on this almost blinding white and the soft, delicate colours of the living room, such as the dining room chandelier, also result of a collaboration with the workshop of Il Bronzetto: in burnished brass, it descends from the ceiling like the intertwined branches of the monumental olive trees with their precious fruit.
A smoked door leads to the sleeping area. A long corridor where everything disappears into the white lime-colored vaulted ceiling, even the doors remain invisible. If it were not for the handles that, custom-made by Bronzetto’s craftsmen, stand out as actual works of art crafted in their dark burnished brass, evocative of the distinctive fruits and plants of Puglia.
The cast brass handles are five, all different, one for each of the five suites: olive, pomegranate, lemon, fig and carob become the real protagonists of this wing of the villa.
The rooms, five in total but four of which are of the same type, are characterized by a large alcove and a large suite with a wrought iron canopy bed. Each space is characterized by the typical earth colors including yellow ochre, red terra cotta, blue sugar paper, olive green. The same palette was also chosen for the sophisticated table lamp Jacaranda in blown glass and brass (named after the godmother of the designer Jacaranda Caracciolo Falk who, like a modern patron, financed the faithful reproduction of the new mold of the lamp, once lost the original, and created the palette of 16 new RAL colors in which the lamp can be declined).
The large suite stands out for the large oval countertop: an enveloping effect that allows for no direct light, a large freestanding bathtub and on the walls large trunks of branches left outdoors for 18 months and painted black are its distinctive features.
The bathrooms, luxurious in their simplicity, are entirely clad in natural stone with washbasins made of large blocks carved in stone and rough cut on the front. Here too the detail is provided by the bespoke mirrors in burnished brass with sinuous shapes that recall the olive branches made by Il Bronzetto.
Spaces that become works of art through customization
Overall, spaces become true works of art, reflecting personal needs, desires and experiences. Customization is evident in every detail, from the finishing of the furniture to the furnishings, from the choice of colour tones to the materials used. Custom-made furniture and chandeliers made with craftsmanship become works of art commissioned to reflect the customer’s individual taste, carefully selected fabrics and textures: each element is carefully chosen to convey a unique and authentic story.
The search for unique, made-to-measure pieces becomes an exploratory journey, guided by the awareness that beauty lies in diversity. This is the thought that guided the architect Graziana Calabrese in her design and realization work, supported by Il Bronzetto, a modern artisan workshop capable of satisfying even the most complex requests, bringing into play craftsmanship, professionalism and all the new technologies available in the world of design. The design idea is to pursue the combination of innovation and tradition, using locally sourced materials worked by the skilful hands of skilled craftsmen, revisiting everything in a more contemporary language. The materials used are emphasized in their intrinsic materiality by working them as little as possible. The colour palettes are neutral, with earthy tones and shades that embrace warmth and tranquility.
Welcoming nuances emerge: butter, which brings a sunny brightness to spaces, ocher yellow, deep and refined, which introduces a note of elegance, terracotta, which with its richness of nuances adds depth and a tangible connection to nature. Brown in all its shades also becomes a key color, giving warmth and familiarity. From the lightest shades of beige to the deepest tones of chocolate, brown creates a solid base for furnishings and decorative elements, generating a feeling of welcome and comfort.
Alongside a palette that creates a haven of serenity and responds to a desire to regain balance and peace in an increasingly hectic world, untreated materials are combined with neutral, monochrome and earthy tones as a matter of course. Wood is presented in all its splendor, from the nobility of fine woods to the rustic authenticity of untreated woods, offering a range of natural tones and creating a warm and welcoming ambience. Stone, with its cream and beige variations, adds a note of solidity and permanence, emphasizing the durability of the design over time. Metal, particularly iron and brass, also introduces a note of modernity and refinement and contributes to a contemporary feel, perfectly integrating tradition with innovation.
Architectural elements such as arches, vaulted ceilings and plastered walls adhere to the Apulian tradition. These details give a sense of authenticity to the spaces, balancing the modernism of the furnishings.
Lighting is carefully designed, with the use of floor lamps, artistic chandeliers and wall sconces creating focal points and adding a sense of drama. Accessories are carefully chosen to avoid visual overload while maintaining a clean and sophisticated look. 
The design reflects a sensitivity to the local using motifs and materials that are common in the Apulia region, such as local ceramics, handcrafted textiles, and wall art that reflect the history and culture of the place.
This project blends the comfort and functionality of contemporary design with the warm hospitality and simplicity of Apulian tradition, creating spaces that are at once elegant, functional, and deeply connected to their geographical and cultural context, an aesthetic that reflects luxury in a discreet and refined manner. This approach emphasizes quality and design without ostentation, creating luxurious spaces in a subtle way, with a feeling of discreet elegance and sophisticated intimacy.
The thoughts of Architect Graziana Calabrese “I believe it is appropriate to invest in high quality materials and craftsmanship to create details that will last over time. This form of luxury is a combination of materials and furnishings, which paints a harmonious and timeless picture, transcending superficial beauty to surround oneself with objects, art and furnishings that have meaning and memory. So, for me it is about quality, about building an image where each piece contributes to the whole, rather than shouting individually to attract attention.”
Photo Credits: Ph Claudio Moccia
****
Biography of Graziana Calabrese
Apulian by birth, she studied at the University of Architecture in Florence, founded her studio in Milan in 2019 at just 30 years old after numerous experiences, first working for international studios, creating hotels, shops and extra-luxury villas around the world for principally foreign clients and large groups in the hospitality world, she also works internally as Architect and project manager for the Kering group and Furla creating new openings and refitting of shops all over the world. She decided to follow her passion for interiors and for the care of details, by founding her studio that deals with architecture, design and art direction. He currently founded Studio Groove for interior consultancy and art direction for companies in the furniture sector, has created a format for Puglia-style villas and is working on luxury residential and hospitality projects. www.grazianacalabrese.com