Studio Didea's renovation of the Airbnb 1 Euro House in Sambuca, Sicily — where ancient masonry is balanced by a modern intervention of cool salt-grey floors and soft Cammeo-toned clay walls, weaving the Sicilian sun into a domestic narrative that is at once contemporary and deeply rooted.
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about this project
Famous for being the first to launch the ‘Houses at 1 euro’ call in 2019 to combat depopulation, Sambuca (Sicily) is now home to a unique project of architectural rebirth: Airbnb’s global search for a host to live in a renovated historic residence, transformed into a manifesto for contemporary, flexible living. The architectural vision by Studio Didea focuses on the verticality of the three-level building. Through the use of perforated metal staircases and handcrafted wood-and-glass doors, the design overcomes the limited exterior openings, allowing natural light to flow freely and revitalize the vaulted spaces and original masonry.
The project is defined by a sensitive balance between local heritage and modern intervention with the intention of drawing the Mediterranean essence and the golden light of Sambuca’s village deep into the building. The design is characterized by traditional materials present on-site, completed by contemporary red and green painted metal stairwells which stand in bold, intentional contrast to the neutral and natural tones of the MATTEOBRIONI raw earth finishes.
The continuity of the floors is ensured by the clay and resins coating MBTerra Floor Smooth in Sale Grigio, a gray-salt tone that provides a sleek, resistant horizontal plane throughout the rooms and bathrooms. However, the true sensory depth of the house emerges from the subtle chromatic contrast on the walls. Here, the project alternates the cool essence of Sale Grigio with the soft, rosy warmth of Cammeo color.
Photography: Claudia Zalla
In real spaces
