A song of stone

Located on the edge of the Foreste Casentinesi national park close to the border with Tuscany, the village of Dovadola is home to an exclusive farmhouse where time and space seem to stand still. Immersed in nature and silence, Corte San Ruffillo is part of an eighteenth-century complex offering comfortable guest rooms, a gourmet restaurant and an organic farm. The complex has listed status due to the ancient origins of the buildings (church, rectory, cellars, services and stately home). The owners, the Vespignani family, have always taken care to ensure that all new interventions are clearly distinguishable from the original, authentic buildings.
This criterion also underpinned the latest expansion project carried out by architect Giorgio Liverani from Modigliana-based practice Ellevuelle, a wellness centre featuring a sauna, Turkish bath, massage room, indoor pool with whirlpool and an outdoor pool alongside the guest rooms, restaurant and farm. The main axis of the new extension converges with the entrance walkway at the reception, which welcomes visitors, provides them with information on the services and offers tastings of local products. The spaces display a contemporary style and fit gracefully into the historical context of the main building in a dialogue between old and new.
The extension consists of three main elements: the plinth, which emerges directly from the ground and accommodates the slopes and unevenness of the terrain; a central section consisting of a highly modern metal structure; and the roof, a wooden coffered structure that mimics the roofs of the existing buildings. The colours and materials of the new building reflect those already present in the complex: stone for the plinth and floors, off-white plaster for the metal structures and wood for the roof.
“For the floor and wall coverings of the spa and swimming pool, we opted for a ceramic product with the best technical characteristics while of course not neglecting aesthetics,” explains the architect. “We needed to ensure maximum slip resistance by adopting R10 and R11 rated surfaces both indoors and outdoors. The Square collection from Cercom has all the qualities we were looking for.” The series combines high technical performance with design and displays an essential, practical elegance. To complete the new spaces, a stylish installation pattern was adopted for both the floors and walls consisting of a mixed composition of three sizes (120×60 cm, 60×60 cm and 30×60 cm) in the Grey Rock colour. The final effect is a striking combination of motion and uniformity.
The project has created a flexible and functional space ideal for hosting events while providing a cosy atmosphere for visitors who want to relax in the wellness centre while gazing out over the surrounding landscape and hills.