VILLA FLORENCE AREA

A panoramic two-story loft with a secret pool in a historical Tuscan setting.

Developed on two floors, the entry level is composed of two large interconnected open-spaces with panoramic windows towards the Tuscan hillside; a more reserved bedroom / studio with en-suite bathroom lays to their side. The level below is the “unexpected place”: a hypogeum spa/pool recalling Roman thermal baths.
At entry level, the first open-space hosts a fully equipped kitchen, a dining area and a panoramic lounge. An ancient doorway through 1 meter-thick masonry leads to a more private area composed of a bedroom / studio and its private bathroom.

The second open-space includes a master bedroom with a king-size bed in the middle, an additional seating/lounge area, a master bathroom and a dressing room/storage space; wall-to-wall and floor-to- ceiling glazing divides this space from the apartment's loggia (a covered terrace) with 180° views of the surrounding landscape and the DaVinci’s Hills. Windows can be completely opened in the warm season, merging indoor, outdoor and landscape into one space, maximizing the loft's relationship with its natural setting.
In between the two wings, a hidden stairwell surprisingly takes you downstairs to the most ancient part of the building: a private spa with an underground pool and a rain-shower room under vaulted masonry ceilings.

The spa/pool is private and can be only accessed from the living areas upstairs.
Water temperature and lighting can be adjusted at will. Underwater seating allows lounging, party or relaxing in the whirlpool area at the further end of the pool.
Designed to reinforce the sense of mystery and discovery as well as its privacy, the underground level can be completely secluded from the upstairs rooms. A giant retractable floor trap, flush with the master bedroom's floor, can be opened at will by a custom-made mechanical system seamlessly incorporating an industrial aesthetic into ancient brick and mortar masonry work. While maximizing the versatility of the whole space, the kinetic system is also meant to introduce an element of playfulness and surprise: the floor suddenly pivots and tilts upward by a hand-powered crank connected to the floor via a set of customized gear – so smooth and light-weight even a child could handle it with ease.