The scenic hills of Italy's Val Tidone are the setting for this modern larch-clad house, designed by Milanese architects Studio Koster.
Studio Koster founder Geert Koster? designed the barn-inspired residence, named Country House, in the hills surrounding Piacenza.
It is a weekend getaway for a client based in Milan, who likes to spend her free time in the countryside with her partner and dogs.
The house is located in Italy's scenic Val Tidone. Photo is by Andrea Martiradonna
The building has a contemporary layout, with plenty of space for entertaining guests. Large living and dining spaces open up to the landscape, and there are four generous double bedrooms, all with their own en-suite bathrooms.
To achieve this without creating a building that looked out of place in the landscape, Koster based his design on the agricultural barns found in this region, rather than the traditional farmhouses. The design takes cues from agricultural barns. Photo is by Andrea Martiradonna
By reinterpreting the single-storey, gabled forms of these wooden structures, he was able to find a more minimal, modern aesthetic.
"The client didn't want a traditional building," Koster explained. "Country life yes, but not country style. No bricks, no exposed stone, and no terracotta floors or roof tiles."
It boasts larch-clad walls and large barn-style doors
"The main concept for the house was to create a non-invasive architecture that integrates with the beauty of the flowin...