Revalue Re Home
Living room , Villa Metelliano
Lavagnino , a Ligurian who moved to Cortona forty-five years ago and who still blesses that decision today : “ If I had stayed in Genoa , I would never have had the work experience but , more than that , the cultural and human experience , that I have had here .” Lavagnino was , and still is , one of the protagonists of the conservative restoration of the real estate heritage in the area : the historic town centre of Cortona , first and foremost , but also numerous villas overlooking the surrounding hills . The restoration is inspired by a simple philosophy , even if not in line with the current architectural mainstream . “ Here ,” he tells us , “ we have the good fortune to inherit objects of the highest quality , with a centuries-old history and culture , and the best architect is the one who ultimately manages to remove as little as possible .” As he sees it , quality is the result of a vast cultural system , made up of ancient knowledge , “ from which we receive messages that we need to know how to perceive , read and deeply respect . Instead , many of the architectural works built today have no compatibility with our history and cultural identity . And when we place them in the environment , how can it ‘ absorb ’ them ?” At Villa Metelliano , he explains , the quality was already all there , inside and out . This does not mean that there was not a lot to do : “ We started with structural restoration . We continued with the aim of making this villa not only habitable , but comfortable , elegant and pleasant for its guests . We did it with care and attention , without haste , with the utmost respect for what we found , always trying to reconcile technical and practical aspects with the aesthetic aspect at the highest level .” Examples of this highly successful “ union ” can be observed on all three floors of the villa : on the ground floor , where a super-equipped kitchen ( one of Bonanno ’ s favourite places and the undisputed reign of his wife Vera ) serves the modern dining room , flanked by a large living room with sofas ,
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Here we have the fortune to inherit objects of the highest quality . The best architect is the one who manages to remove as little as possible
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Giuseppe Bonanno , owner Villa Metelliano armchairs , wooden furniture , smart TV and fireplace ; and on the upper floors with the sleeping area , accessed via an elegant staircase in wood and wrought iron ( there is also a lift for those who need it ) leading to bedrooms of great charm … All surmounted by a dove-grey coffered ceiling , light as all the walls that cleverly divide the 300 square metres of the house . For an overall view of the result , we rely on the images published on these pages and on the equally beautiful and even more numerous pictures you can find on the internet . We leave the final words to Bonanno , who tells us the most recent chapter in the story . “ In 2021 , having completed the restoration work and having got through the most virulent phase of the pandemic , I began to rent out the villa for short periods . I did so while managing everything
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