Andrew Trotter’s Masseria Moroseta ⏤ In Its Own Space-Time
Some may think that a white construction won’t stand out in a typical Mediterranean landscape. That’s not the case for Masseria Moroseta. The all white construction surrounded by the centennial olive trees of a farm in Ostuni, Puglia, melts in great harmony with the landscape and yet steals the spot. Andrew Trotter understood the location and its history, and in great respect of it, designed a place which, solid in traditions, embraces modernity.
During his first trip to Puglia, Andrew helped his good friend Carlo, the Masseria’s owner, in searching for the perfect building that could later be transformed into a small hotel. Carlo then came across a beautiful farm and he decided to build his dream venue on its land, starting from ground zero.
With a strong career in fashion and creation, Andrew felt this was the perfect opportunity to finally go back to his origins as a designer. He plunged into the study of local architecture, leading him to better understand Carlo’s enchantment with this land, which he eventually fell in love with as well.
Moving on with his research and design ideas, he came up with his first completed architecture project. Built with traditional materials and techniques, Moroseta has modern proportions, clean lines and offers its visitors infinite great angles. Moroseta has the quality of being monumental and discrete at the same time.
Highly integrated with the outside, but yet protective of the inside, all spaces have eyes on the farm or the internal patio, giving guests the choice between the privacy of their suite or the coziness of the common areas, without giving up the magical view on the olive fields. But the greatest view is from the roof: the alluring white stone stairs, carved between two white walls at the center of the patio, lead to the top of the construction, where nothing gets in the way of the view of the enchanting olive fields and, behind them, the Mediterranean Sea.
Built in line with local traditions reminiscent of old nearby farmhouses, Moroseta blends the vernacular characteristics of a masseria, such as the floor plan, the wide insulating walls with calcio white lime wash, the breathing walls and the vaulted ceiling, with modern materials and furnitures which provide an elegant, yet simple and cozy atmosphere to the interiors.
Light limestone floors cohabitating with graphic and colored concrete tiles, copper faucets, ancient wood, modern furniture, white tuff walls and dark windows and gates.
The Masseria’s respectful and well-thought architecture comes with more than sensorial benefits. The construction insulates from both heat and cold, the passive ventilation eliminates the need for mechanical aeration, and the use of solar panels allows for less electricity consumption.
Moroseta is a great example of how thoughtful architecture may combine modernity and innovation with context and tradition without falling into nostalgia.
