Seaside Villa, Monte Argentario
Seaside Villa, Monte Argentario: sculptures of green and stone overlooking the azure.
Overlooking a promontory that gazes down upon the splendid sandy isthmus of Feniglia, this villa called for a deep bond with the landscape.
It was necessary to reduce water consumption for ecological ethics while retrieving the authentic beauty of the coast. We remodeled the slopes, eliminating the old lawn and replacing it with local stone terracing.
A complex intervention, made difficult by logistics, but fundamental for the result: a return to the roots of the site, where technique conceals itself to let harmony speak.
he supporting structure is entrusted to Pistacia lentiscus, Phillyrea angustifolia, and Elaeagnus x ebbingei, maintained in spherical forms.
It is not about imposing a design, but citing the surrounding nature, where the wind inexorably sculpts the maquis cushions. These forms dialogue with the stone walls, visually anchoring the project to the ground.
It is a subtle balance: geometry defines the space, offering a reassuring order to the eye, while botanical substance ensures vigor and perfect adaptation to the difficult saline climate, guaranteeing beauty in every season.
On the ground, we chose a different path. Classic turf lawns give way to “alternative lawns,” obtained by consociating five different species.
Phyla nodiflora, Dymondia margaretae, and Sedum ‘Coral Carpet’ run between the walkway stones, weaving a compact texture. Joined to them are Achillea crithmifolia and Verbena x hybrida, which offer blooms and movement.
The result creates walkable surfaces, green and colorful in every season, capable of thriving with minimal water inputs. It is proof that one can enjoy the freshness and softness of green, while making a conscious and sustainable ecological choice.
The final result is a place that seems to have always belonged to the landscape. The terraces and vegetation fade into the marine horizon, dissolving the boundaries between man’s work and wild nature.
It is a living space, where elegance resides in measure and silence. A project that blends with grace into a powerful landscape, which did not ask to be dominated, but only to be deeply listened to, to reveal its most authentic soul.
The work was published in:
– Gardenia, Special “Gardens and Pools”, June 2025.
