LDA.iMdA reinterprets rural tuscan house typology for geometric gabled villa

reconstructive renovation shapes Casa Sotto La Nuvola

Located in San Miniato, Tuscany, Casa Sotto La Nuvola is a residential project by LDA.iMdA Architects, shaped by a process of reconstructive renovation. The site sits within a landscape of olive-covered hills near the historic Via Francigena, with the design responding to both topography and cultural context.

The project consists of two separate yet connected volumes: the main house and a smaller guesthouse. This spatial arrangement was developed to ensure privacy between the two functions, with an axial loggia serving as the connecting element. The building’s floor plan follows a deliberately simple and traditional form, retaining the archetypal rural house geometry of a rectangle topped with a gabled roof. While the exterior references local architectural typologies, the interior layout adopts a more contemporary approach. Bedrooms are positioned at ground level, and the living areas are placed on the lower basement floor. This inversion of traditional residential planning draws on spatial strategies seen in certain examples of modernist architecture.

all images by medullastudiomedulla

LDA.iMdA architects focuses on context, history, and materiality

The building, developed by LDA.iMdA architects’ team, follows a north-south axis, running perpendicular to the hillside ridge. This orientation was selected to integrate the structure into the terrain while minimizing visual impact on the nearby Via Francigena. Optical channels were introduced into the design to frame key landscape views, establishing a direct connection between interior spaces and the surrounding environment. The volumetric composition employs stereometric forms, reinterpreting the profile of the preexisting structure while remaining sensitive to the rural context. Outdoor spaces are designed to provide both visual and functional continuity with the landscape, and careful consideration was given to preserving the existing native vegetation.

Natural light plays a strategic role in the spatial organization, with openings positioned to suit the interior layout and enhance the quality of light in each area. Exterior materials and colors were selected to blend with the tones of historic buildings in the area, with light-toned brick as a preferred finish. Interior color schemes are predominantly neutral, allowing the surrounding views and landscape colors to become focal points within the living spaces.

the project by LDA.iMdA Architects follows a reconstructive renovation approach

Casa Sotto La Nuvola’s design responds to the Tuscan setting

The building footprint draws on historical references from the Catasto Leopoldino, an 18th-century land registry map, which recorded the existence of a similar structure on the site. Although the original building no longer stood at the time of design, the new construction maintains proportions consistent with local rural typologies, typically slender in form to suit the morphology of hilly terrain and agricultural land divisions. A key feature of the design is the valley-facing elevation, where an optical channel is framed by a projecting overhang. This architectural element creates a covered outdoor space in front of the living area, while visually lightening the building’s mass and enhancing its integration into the landscape. Throughout the project, from conceptual development to the selection of materials and finishes, the design approach maintains a consistent focus on context, history, and the material qualities of the Tuscan setting.

Casa Sotto La Nuvola is located in San Miniato, Tuscany, surrounded by olive-covered hills

a projecting overhang creates a sheltered outdoor area and lightens the overall mass

two separate yet connected volumes house the main residence and guesthouse

an axial loggia links the two volumes, providing both connection and privacy

the building follows a north-south axis, aligning perpendicularly to the hillside ridge

optical channels frame key landscape views, connecting interior and exterior spaces

the volumetric composition reinterprets the profile of the preexisting structure

the design responds directly to the site’s topography and cultural context near the Via Francigena

the exterior subtly references local architectural typologies

the building’s floor plan retains a simple, traditional rural house geometry

the inverted floor plan draws inspiration from modernist residential design

bedrooms are located at ground level, while living spaces sit on the lower basement floor

natural light is carefully directed through strategically placed openings

interior spaces feature neutral color schemes that emphasize external views

the selection of materials and finishes maintains a consistent focus on context

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basement plan

ground floor plan

first floor plan

roof plan

section aa

section bb

section cc

section dd

south elevation

north elevation

east elevation

west elevation

sketch

project info:

name: Casa Sotto La Nuvola
architects: LDA.iMdA architects | @lda.imda

location: San Miniato (PI), Italy

area: 250 sqm

wall structure: Xella Italia (Ytong)

metal sheet: Arte Arredo Arredamenti di Pieri Sandro

stairs: C.N.C. di Ceccanti Roberto & C. S.N.C.

windows: Ciampini srl – secco sistemi

small kitchen light: flos

photographer: medullastudiomedulla | @medullastudiomedulla

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom