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Airbnb revamps historic Sicilian home into a modern apartment
MDF Italia’s Tense Table and Flow Chairs provide space for both eating and working
Image: Claudia Zalla
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Airbnb revamps historic Sicilian home into a modern apartment

Restored by Studio Didea Architetti Associati, the modern apartment houses several items by iconic Italian furnishing brand, MDF Italia.

by Almas Sadique
Published on : Feb 08, 2022

In a recently restored historic house located in Sambuca, a small rural village lying on a hill in the Sicilian region in Italy , several MDF Italia products have found a home. MDF Italia is a renowned Italian brand that designs furniture for households. This three storey building, located in the province of Agrigento, was acquired by Airbnb and turned by Studio Didea into a contemporary residence . In an attempt to usher visitors and residents to the small village and prevent its abandonment, the remodeling features several modern facilities.

airbnb-revamps-historic-sicilian-home-into-a-modern-apartment
This refurbished Airbnb house is predominantly a historic building in Sambuca Image:Claudia Zalla

Another effort that has also been heralded by Airbnb to stall and reverse this consistent decline in the population of small towns and villages in Italy and support rural communities and their cultural heritage, is the ‘1 Euro House’ campaign, which invites an interested candidate to inhabit the newly renovated home and host guests for an entire year without paying any rent. This opportunity to inhabit a newly refurbished apartment which bears heritage value seems even more attractive and ideal now, what with the recently found flexibility to live and work remotely from anywhere in the world.

airbnb-revamps-historic-sicilian-home-into-a-modern-apartment
The interiors of the home comprise several open plan spaces that can be used as desired Image:Claudia Zalla

This dainty Sicilian home, located on a gently sloping hill alongside other traditional homes in Sambuca, was transformed from a dilapidated and decaying building to a minimalist apartment by an Italian architectural firm called Didea Studio. Drawing inspiration from the local landscape, the studio shortlisted colours and materials that, on one hand, distinctly define the different spaces within the household, and on the other, reflect the outdoor landscape within the walls of the household and harmoniously sit next to each other.

airbnb-revamps-historic-sicilian-home-into-a-modern-apartment
Seated on the Neil Textile seat by MDF Italia, one can work or study while enjoying the charming view of the Sicilian village Image:Claudia Zalla

While the home has been refurbished according to the demands of the modern traveller, bearing technologically sound amenities and a non-ostentatious demeanour, it also bears the imprint of Sicilian features in the form of local handmade objects and elements like stone walls and wooden ceilings. The three floors of the house comprise two living rooms, one master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, a mezzanine bedroom, a kitchen, an open plan working space, bathrooms and an additional living space on the top floor.

airbnb-revamps-historic-sicilian-home-into-a-modern-apartment
The refurbished household comprises several hotspots for relaxation Image:Claudia Zalla

The interiors of this Sicilian home are further enhanced by MDF Italia products that dot various spaces within the apartment. Some of their products that inhabit the spaces of the historic building include the Flow Stool, Neil Textile seats, Tense Table and Flow Chairs. While the Flow Stool and Neil Textile seats are placed in several corners of the house, turning them into a relaxation or work corner, the Tense Table and Flow Chair are housed in the kitchen. The table and chairs set acts like a dining space, while also serving as a space for leisure activities. The light-weight furniture, characterised by elemental and basic lines and shapes do not crowd the space. Instead, they imbue the house with a sense of lightness, openness and balance, conveying the message that the space welcomes its visitors to occupy the space as they desire.

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