Gallery Key features
Gallery
Key features
An INSCAPE villa is a unique blend of natural materials, craftsmanship and bespoke solutions. An exquisite residence, hidden among the ancient olive trees or standing proudly on the top of a hill as if in a dream, occupying a place in space and time that is light years away from everyday life. A place where the authenticity of the earth and the essence of nature finally meet. An exceptional living space, made of stone and incredible vaulting which showcases the proportions and techniques of traditional architecture using a simple and basic language which is respectful of local culture. The planning and construction of an INSCAPE masseria is a significant undertaking, but the result changes your life and becomes a truly unique asset.
An INSCAPE villa is a unique blend of natural materials, craftsmanship and bespoke solutions. An exquisite residence, hidden among the ancient olive trees or standing proudly on the top of a hill as if in a dream, occupying a place in space and time that is light years away from everyday life. A place where the authenticity of the earth and the essence of nature finally meet. An exceptional living space, made of stone and incredible vaulting which showcases the proportions and techniques of traditional architecture using a simple and basic language which is respectful of local culture. The planning and construction of an INSCAPE masseria is a significant undertaking, but the result changes your life and becomes a truly unique asset.
Stones and colours
Working with stone
means having in your hands
a material that is a sea
laid down over millions of years.
Antonio De Luca,
Salentino designer
–
Pietra leccese, carparo and pietra di Soleto, are typical of the Salentino region and already well established in the international arena as highly prized, top class materials, sought after the world over for their golden beauty which naturally reflects the southern Italian sunshine. Pietra leccese or kind stone (so-called for its soft easily-worked consistency) is a homogenous sedimentary limestone, golden yellow in colour and slightly granular to the touch. Characterised by a dense and malleable structure, it is a perfect stone to cut and work and excellent for sculpting ornamental details. Spread throughout the stone are fossil fragments, traces of ancient life, a centuries-old testimony to the transformative power of nature. Carparo, is another example of this. It has a more granular structure and is altogether a warmer material, yellow to reddish brown in colour and porous, like coral.
Matera’s Sassi and the Abbey of Montescaglioso use blocks of limestone known as tufa which were mined by hand over the centuries from Murgia. This limestone is a soft yellowish-white, sometimes grey, sedimentary carbonate. Its texture and hardness vary depending on where it comes from. It’s easily worked, so much so that in pre-historic times it was used to carve out natural grottos to adapt them more easily to the needs of their human occupants.
INSCAPE works with these materials, combining them
with experience and sensitivity to create elegant, luminous architecture
which transforms the simplicity of living into an experience
which engages the soul and the senses.
Working with this local stone involves using a specific colour palette, dominated by the tones and shades of gold and beige. The paintwork is usually in neutral and pastel hues like pale grey or sage-green to reflect the landscape which surrounds the villa and to support the architectural design of the masseria and to allow its calming simplicity to emerge. Not infrequently, natural pigmentation is used for the treatment of the walls in the bathrooms. Outside, the only colour which differs from this palette is the anthracite grey of the metal structure used to hold up the pergolas, a nod to the wrought-ironwork of the area, traditionally made by local craftsmen.
INSCAPE works with these materials, combining them with experience and sensitivity to create elegant, luminous architecture which transforms the simplicity of living into an experience which engages the soul and the senses.
Working with this local stone involves using a specific colour palette, dominated by the tones and shades of gold and beige. The paintwork is usually in neutral and pastel hues like pale grey or sage-green to reflect the landscape which surrounds the villa and to support the architectural design of the masseria and to allow its calming simplicity to emerge. Not infrequently, natural pigmentation is used for the treatment of the walls in the bathrooms. Outside, the only colour which differs from this palette is the anthracite grey of the metal structure used to hold up the pergolas, a nod to the wrought-ironwork of the area, traditionally made by local craftsmen.
The techniques and the INSCAPE Academy
There’s something about the stone vaulting used to span the distance and cover the living space in one spectacular and ordered sweep of stone blocks, or the atmosphere within an area covered by an arch or a vault, something that has an unmistakeable, classical feel to it, something which taps into the ancient memory banks of every human being. There are vaults of various kinds, but the most typical and fascinating are star vaults, which are very strongly linked to the local area and culture.
Behind these excellent works of geometry, lies not only technical mastery, but real manual skill and the desire to keep alive the tradition which has contributed so much to the story of this land. Secrets are hidden in the architecture of INSCAPE masserias, the rules of harmony and of measurement which give the vaults beauty and stability, formal design and resistance, an evocative image unaltered by time. The craftsmen who work the stone do so with such precision that no mortar is required to hold the blocks together, the harmony of this dry construction triumphing over the geometry, the strength of the construction lying in its shape.
The techniques and the
INSCAPE Academy
There’s something about the stone vaulting used to span the distance and cover the living space in one spectacular and ordered sweep of stone blocks, or the atmosphere within an area covered by an arch or a vault, something that has an unmistakeable, classical feel to it, something which taps into the ancient memory banks of every human being. There are vaults of various kinds, but the most typical and fascinating are star vaults, which are very strongly linked to the local area and culture.
Behind these excellent works of geometry, lies not only technical mastery, but real manual skill and the desire to keep alive the tradition which has contributed so much to the story of this land. Secrets are hidden in the architecture of INSCAPE masserias, the rules of harmony and of measurement which give the vaults beauty and stability, formal design and resistance, an evocative image unaltered by time. The craftsmen who work the stone do so with such precision that no mortar is required to hold the blocks together, the harmony of this dry construction triumphing over the geometry, the strength of the construction lying in its shape.
A reference to the past handed down from generation
to generation, the fruits of the experience of master masons
who have preserved their knowledge right up to the present day.
This is what shapes INSCAPE. This is its DNA.
You’re born to do this job, you can’t just learn it by chance says the stonemason.
To this end, the company has founded an Academy dedicated to the professional development of young master craftsmen, who learn the techniques and traditions of their elders following an educational path combining theory and practice which allows them to gain an understanding of theoretical concepts through experimenting on the building site. This ensures the knowledge and skills of the craft continue, a craft which has created the castles and cathedrals we still admire today whenever we see them in the art cities of the area.
A reference to the past handed down from generation to generation, the fruits of the experience of master masons who have preserved their knowledge right up to the present day. This is what shapes INSCAPE.
This is its DNA.
You’re born to do this job, you can’t just learn it by chance says the stonemason.
To this end, the company has founded an Academy dedicated to the professional development of young master craftsmen, who learn the techniques and traditions of their elders following an educational path combining theory and practice which allows them to gain an understanding of theoretical concepts through experimenting on the building site. This ensures the knowledge and skills of the craft continue, a craft which has created the castles and cathedrals we still admire today whenever we see them in the art cities of the area.
Nature
Walking in the shade of the olive trees
is the most authentic way to restore the soul.
To meet a centuries-old olive is a unique experience
that creates a private dialogue between the spectator and the twisted trunk.
Just like when you’re looking at a work of art.
Nature
Walking in the shade of the olive trees
is the most authentic way to restore the soul.
To meet a centuries-old olive is a unique experience that creates a private dialogue between the spectator and the twisted trunk. Just like when you’re looking at a work of art.
For INSCAPE the interior space of the house is an extension of the nature
which surrounds it: the villa and the landscape are one continuous entity.
Working with light, nature and greenery is therefore a fundamental part
of the INSCAPE philosophy: the masserias follow a traditional plan
and are set in a totally unspoiled landscape, to preserve the intimacy
of living in such an inspiring setting.
The architecture is designed and built so that the inside and the outside are connected, thanks to the carefully planned series of spaces and the use of building techniques conceived and executed in response to the actual situation on the ground. Landscaping plays an essential role in the design of every masseria, becoming part of the poetry of the project. The planned work and the land itself integrate seamlessly. Unquestionably, Nature has the lead role in an INSCAPE masseria, improving the quality of life and physical and psychological wellbeing of whoever comes into contact with it.
For INSCAPE the interior space of the house is an extension of the nature
which surrounds it: the villa and the landscape are one continuous entity.
Working with light, nature and greenery is therefore a fundamental part
of the INSCAPE philosophy: the masserias follow a traditional plan
and are set in a totally unspoiled landscape, to preserve the intimacy
of living in such an inspiring setting.
The architecture is designed and built so that the inside and the outside are connected, thanks to the carefully planned series of spaces and the use of building techniques conceived and executed in response to the actual situation on the ground. Landscaping plays an essential role in the design of every masseria, becoming part of the poetry of the project. The planned work and the land itself integrate seamlessly. Unquestionably, Nature has the lead role in an INSCAPE masseria, improving the quality of life and physical and psychological wellbeing of whoever comes into contact with it.
Design and Sustainability
INSCAPE’s architectural designs are a modern take on a traditional concept which uses stone, respecting its possibilities and restrictions with a simple, original design. An INSCAPE masseria is not a replica but a personalized reinterpretation of these traditional grand residences. Everything is carefully considered, down to the last detail: the choice of finishes, the furnishings, the lighting, all to ensure the villa enjoys the comfort and convenience of contemporary living.
INSCAPE villas have satellite TV and internet connection, everything designed to the highest standards, from the technology to the double glazing, from the top spec kitchens to the latest alarm system, from the infinity pool and the fireplaces to the hand carved stonework details. The bathrooms, which INSCAPE consider to be among the most important rooms in the house, are always meticulously designed in terms of both exclusivity and refinement of detail.
Views and focal points are designed using landscape and architecture to provide a continual series of pleasant surprises. The vaulted ceilings, arches and materials evoke a sense of traditional local style and provide a perfect backdrop for the interiors, furnished and finished in Italian designer style.
The interiors are designed and created to make the most of
the warm colour of the local stone and lend a sense of peace
and calm to counter the stresses of modern day living.
They can be personalized in classic or contemporary style.
Design and Sustainability
INSCAPE’s architectural designs are a modern take on a traditional concept which uses stone, respecting its possibilities and restrictions with a simple, original design. An INSCAPE masseria is not a replica but a personalized reinterpretation of these traditional grand residences. Everything is carefully considered, down to the last detail: the choice of finishes, the furnishings, the lighting, all to ensure the villa enjoys the comfort and convenience of contemporary living.
INSCAPE villas have satellite TV and internet connection, everything designed to the highest standards, from the technology to the double glazing, from the top spec kitchens to the latest alarm system, from the infinity pool and the fireplaces to the hand carved stonework details. The bathrooms, which INSCAPE consider to be among the most important rooms in the house, are always meticulously designed in terms of both exclusivity and refinement of detail.
Views and focal points are designed using landscape and architecture to provide a continual series of pleasant surprises. The vaulted ceilings, arches and materials evoke a sense of traditional local style and provide a perfect backdrop for the interiors, furnished and finished in Italian designer style.
The interiors are designed and created to make the most of
the warm colour of the local stone and lend a sense of peace
and calm to counter the stresses of modern day living.
They can be personalized in classic or contemporary style.
The high, airy rooms are synonymous with wellbeing and calm and help maintain an ideal ambient temperature. Each room has large French doors or windows opening onto the landscape or onto the numerous courtyards in the interior of the villa, ensuring beautiful views from every part of the property.
The outside spaces are designed to be an extension of the house and have gardens, relaxation areas, outbuildings and guest accommodation (it is almost more like a little village than a classic villa) and there are often terraces on several levels.
The solid stone walls ensure a comfortable climate all year round. In the summer the rooms are naturally cool without the need for air conditioning and in the winter the thermal heat exchange system heats the property and the thick walls help with natural heat retention and means there is minimal energy wasted. There are also other passive methods for controlling emission and consumption such as the many internal cloisters and covered porticoes which offer shady places to relax or to cool down during the hottest summer days and are also perfect places to dine or enjoy a glass of wine.
The villa’s sustainability is both an important consideration and an achievable goal, not only because the building materials and craftsmen are local but because an INSCAPE villa reduces environmental impact by using 100% natural material (local stone) which is energy efficient and also an excellent sound insulator. It’s a unique concept, not just because of its design but because of its innovative contribution to the area’s stoneworking culture.
Deciding to build a masseria using the most sustainable methods and materials means that careful thought has to go into every stage of the planning and construction to optimize energy savings and ensure that the final product is sustainable and self-sufficient from a consumption point of view. Should it be deemed desirable, it’s also possible to install photovoltaic systems in the villa and grounds.
