A contemporary farmhouse

Standing on a gentle slope in a panoramic position at an altitude of 1,000 metres, the Bruggerhof maso — the local name for a traditional Tyrolean farm building — has been converted into a residence consisting of five comfortable and functional apartments. At the same time it has maintained all the charm of a traditional Alpine home. The project created by the firm Fliesenbau has modernised the concept of mountain relaxation with new layouts and materials suited to a contemporary lifestyle but without sacrificing the original spirit of the South Tyrolean farm.
The home is located in the village of Cadipietra set in the heart of Valle Aurina or Ahrntal about a hundred kilometres from Bolzano. Nicknamed the «houses of the mountains», the valley winds through an enchanted landscape dominated by more than 80 peaks higher than 3,000 metres. The natural landscape of this splendid corner of South Tyrol is dominated by streams, waterfalls, pine forests and pastures — alternately green or snow-covered depending on the season. The area also keeps alive the tradition of the maso, the typical rural construction of farming families (there are around 25,000 of them in the South Tyrol), which nowadays combine their traditional business of livestock rearing and cheese production with that of tourism. This was exactly what happened in the case of the Bruggerhof maso. Owned by the family for generations, it is now run by Wolfgang and Julia, a young and highly motivated couple who decided to refurbish it to create an idyllic rural accommodation with modern functions and comfort.
The first step was the choice of surface coverings. The Assi d’Alpe collection 90.5x 20 cm size porcelain tiles from Panaria Ceramica chosen for the floors extend seamlessly throughout the house, bathrooms included. Appropriately chosen in the colour Maso, the ceramic tiles reproduce the characteristic shades and textures of the wood traditionally used in Alpine homes while at the same time guaranteeing maximum functionality (ease of maintenance and cleaning, as well as exceptional resistance to frost, staining and slip). The grey tone chosen for the wood-look planks coordinates perfectly with the wood of the furniture and the roof structure, while at the same time ensuring a clear visual separation.
In keeping with the Tyrolean tradition, the internal walls are wood panelled, sculpted here and there with delicate mouldings to create a warm, intimate atmosphere. The same timber is used for the doors, the fixtures and all the furniture — the chairs with their traditional cloverleaf-shaped Tyrolean backrests with heart-shaped cut-outs, the tables with their smoothly contoured legs, the benches which almost appear to float above the floor, the beds and wardrobes. Alongside wood, the furnishings have been chosen in an exclusively white colour to coordinate effectively with the grey-pearl of the bathrooms and the taupe tones of the ceramic tiles. Another white feature is the storage heating stove which dominates the stube, the traditional wood-panelled Tyrolean lounge, where farming families used to spend their evenings together before going to bed, and which in the new spatial organisation of the house serves as a meeting and relaxation area.
The house has a modern, functional layout with clearly defined and separate daytime and night-time areas, distinguished by meticulously designed, unobtrusive furnishings that always leave the space free and uncluttered.
This contemporary project preserves the traditional Alpine flavour and fits in perfectly with a splendid region that offers visitors a thrilling, emotional experience.