Studio Urban Interior introduces the Villa Normanni Puglia project, which originated as a private initiative with a clearly defined investment vision. The creators aimed to identify an attractive, relatively undiscovered coastal area in Southern Europe to build a holiday villa of high standard within a moderate, pre-set budget.
INTERIOR DESIGN
Although the owners conceived the project primarily as an investment, the development soon acquired a strong personal dimension. The author of the design worked closely with her husband, who participated actively as a creative professional. Italy emerged as the natural choice because the country maintains renown for its cultural, architectural, and design history. Within Italy, the Apulia region offered the perfect setting. This rapidly developing tourist destination features the Adriatic Sea to the northeast and the Ionian Sea to the south, providing natural beauty alongside affordable investment opportunities.
The complex comprises a newly built main villa and a smaller counterpart, which the builders adapted from an existing agricultural structure. Reflecting its recreational purpose and Mediterranean climate, the living spaces extend outdoors through a series of complementary features. These additions include pergolas, verandas, an outdoor kitchen, a fireplace terrace, a sun deck with a pool, and covered parking.
The architectural language draws from the local context. The single-storey building utilizes a white-plastered facade and integrates characteristic regional elements. The construction features an external staircase leading to a walkable roof, softened edges, a chimney, and pillars in traditional forms. Walls of local tufo stone, reed-covered shading, and floors of pietra Leccese evoke the character of the place. This approach embeds the architecture naturally into its olive-grove surroundings. The chosen color palette deepens this relationship by setting green-grey window frames against the luminous white forms.
Inside, the restrained design continues. Natural materials, including wood, linen, rattan, and stone, define spaces that remain minimalist and welcoming. Their diverse textures form a harmonious composition, creating interiors that are understated, warm, and comfortable.
The design team planned the main villa with privacy and guest comfort in mind. It offers three ensuite bedrooms alongside a central living space with a dining area and kitchen. Supporting facilities, such as laundry and storage, sit discreetly set apart. The smaller villa functions as a private apartment containing a living room, kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom. Its architectural treatment deliberately evokes the impression of an older structure, giving its facade and interiors a distinct character. Two ceramic Pina figures crown the roof to follow the traditional belief that they bring good fortune.
Large folding windows orient both villas toward the pool and the olive grove, dissolving the threshold between inside and out. The owners brought most of the furnishings from the Czech Republic, complementing them with custom-made pieces.
Technically, the villas operate year-round with full air conditioning and heating systems. Solar panels, as required by local regulations, ensure renewable energy production. Water arrives from a 200-meter well, which workers completed successfully on the second drilling attempt. A cistern harvests rainwater for reuse, and the parking area contains an electric vehicle charging station. Given the energy demands of air conditioning and water management, the builders placed particular emphasis on self-sufficiency, designing systems to meet the highest standards.
Studio: Urban Interior
Author: Markéta Killi
Project location: Contrada Usciglio, San Vito Dei Normanni, Italy
Project year: 2023-2025
Completion year: 2025
Built-up area: 206 m²
Usable floor area: 124 m² main villa, 41 m² small villa
Plot size: 17 000 m²
Cost: 700 000 €
Client: Markéta and Lars Killi
Photographer: Cosimo Calabrese, Duotono Fotografia
Collaborators and suppliers
Project documentation and construction: Trulli Dream Costruzioni
