A Whimsical Reuse explores refined architectural transformations where history is reinterpreted through poetic interventions and contemporary craft. Forgotten spaces gain new life, revealing a dialogue between memory, material, and contemporary ways of living.
In the historic centre of Lequile, a small town in the Salento peninsula of Puglia, southern Italy, near Lecce, a long-abandoned historic residence is gently rehabilitated by Valari Studio as a place of hospitality, rest and encounter conceived around the ancient Greek idea of “eudaimonia”: a condition of well-being that extends beyond the physical to encompass a state of mental grace. Nearly 300 m2 of interiors and 700 m2 of gardens, courtyards and terraces are reorganised around “otium”: the possibility of slowing down, inhabiting time differently, and finding moments of quiet within the layered character of historic architecture.
Valari preserves the palazzo’s spatial sequences, star-vaulted ceilings, terrazzo floors and carved stone details, weaving contemporary interventions into its existing fabric. Gardens enter the interiors, communal rooms encourage gathering, and tactile local materials establish a dialogue between past and present
The project began even before the property was found. Valari accompanied the client, Fabio Moro, in the search for a building capable of embodying this idea of well-being. After numerous visits, they settled on a modestly fronted palazzo that had been abandoned for years.
Behind its restrained façade lay a sequence of rooms, courtyards and outdoor spaces overlooking an overgrown rear garden, where an ancient orange grove and century-old trees had survived.
A staircase led upwards to a generous terrace, offering a view towards the dome of Palazzo San Vito.
Beneath years of dust, the architects discovered original poured terrazzo floors and two remarkable mosaic medallions, traces of a domestic interior whose character had remained largely intact.
“What truly captivated us was the atmosphere: a blend of luxury and homeliness, enriched by historical accents and lush greenery,” explain Nicolò Lewanski and Federica Russo of Valari.
THE RENOVATION
The project involved a gentle rehabilitation of the original spaces to create a guest house featuring four bedrooms with private bathrooms and several indoor and outdoor communal areas.
“Working on this kind of architecture meant respecting historical constraints, such as the sequence of rooms and the majestic star-vaulted ceilings, which we embraced as design stimuli and elevated to central elements of the new contemporary spaces,” says Valari.
From the main courtyard with handmade Umbrian terracotta flooring, one moves through a succession of indoor and outdoor spaces, arriving at the first salon with decorated terrazzo flooring.
“In buildings like this, living rooms were significant. Social codes dictated formal entrances, conversation rooms, and domestic areas. We chose to preserve this distinction in our design; in fact, the varied interactions and opportunities for encounter guided the layout of the new shared spaces.”
At the heart of the project is the dining room, conceived as a communal area at the crossroads of shared spaces. It is the lively center of the house’s social life, centered around a large custom-made table by Valari in wood and steel, in dialogue with the tactile quality of the original stone walls.
The kitchen, pantry, and bar open through large windows onto the garden and feature sculptural custom-made steel furnishings.
“These three areas were designed as a unified whole, each with its own vaulted ceiling and view of the greenery, yet visually and materially connected through the interplay of custom steel and wood elements.”
In what was likely a family chapel, the Garden Room was created. Beneath the star vault and next to a historic stone arch, the floor was excavated to host gravel, a large stone, lush vegetation, and cushions.
“A retreat for hot summer afternoons, when even the garden’s shade isn’t enough—an oasis of cool and calm within the palazzo’s walls, or an indoor garden for rainy days,” explain the architects.
The bedrooms were designed as sanctuaries of rest and intimacy. Room, bathroom, and private outdoor space blend into a fluid layout with essential furnishings in warm, neutral tones—creating peaceful refuges.
“In this project, the relationship between inside and outside contrasts with pure functionalism—like the Garden Room, which brings greenery inside the palazzo walls. Similarly, the master bedroom’s private patio becomes an informal open-air bathroom, featuring a bathtub carved into the floor and an arched brass shower—choices we believed would enhance the essence of this rich historic architecture,” the architects explain.
OUTDOOR SPACES
In addition to the two main courtyards, other outdoor areas include a terrace overlooking the dome of the Church of San Vito and a rear garden courtyard.
The terrace is conceived as a minimalist outdoor lounge, with built-in benches and soft floor lighting. The garden is lush and vibrant, welcoming guests around the pool beneath an ancient eucalyptus, a privet tree, and a timeworn orange grove that frames the spacious exterior.
MATERIALS
With the intention of celebrating the original materiality of the palazzo while preserving and complementing it with new additions, the project invites guests to experience the dialogue between past and present, both visually and through touch.
Inside, historic materials of great value were restored—decorated terrazzo floors depicting flora and fauna, tricolored cement tiles in the master bedroom, and carved stone friezes on ceilings and arches—paired with materials crafted by local artisans using ancient techniques, such as in-situ terrazzo, monochrome cement tiles, and bespoke sinks in concrete and travertine.
Contemporary materials like steel for windows and furniture, brass fixtures, and oak wood were also introduced.
Both the original and new materials share a purity and natural quality, echoing the tones and textures of the region.
The home’s welcoming atmosphere is further enhanced by its furnishings and textiles: velvet sofas, linen curtains, cotton sheets and blankets, and many custom-made cushions.
All bathrooms feature terrazzo or cement tile floors and custom sinks in concrete or travertine, with brass fittings. Notable elements include a shower tucked under an arched vault and a terracotta-toned monumental bathtub.
Palazzo San Vito is a reinterpretation of traditional architecture as a place of hospitality, rooted in the ethos of quiet luxury, with a neutral color palette and particular attention to materials and furnishings—highlighting the essence of Valari’s design.
About Valari
Valari is an architecture practice founded by Federica Russo and Nicolò Lewanski that explores Puglia through design, international know-how, and Italian craftsmanship. The studio has recently completed Masseria Belvedere in Carovigno, the CMCC headquarters in Lecce, designed the Stelo exhibition system for the Bibliomuseum Hub of Lecce, and created the setups for the first edition of Yeast Photo Festival. Valari is currently involved in numerous residential and hospitality projects across Puglia.
Facts & Credits
Project title Palazzo San Vito
Typology Interiors, Hospitality, Renovation
Location Lequile, Lecce, Italia
Completion year 2024
Floor area 300 m2
Garden area 700m2
Architecture Valari Studio | Federica Russo, Nicolò Lewanski
Team Biagio Russo, Gianpiero Santoro
Safety Marco Pizzolante
Landscape Architecture Gabriele Fanuli
Photography Lorenzo Zandri, Alex Reyto