The renovation of a farmhouse in Tuscany as elsewhere is a much sought-after project as it allows people to live in a functional and comfortable yet rural-style home, often set in a rustic context of unparalleled beauty.
Many farmhouses are located in green and hilly areas not far from the city and well connected by roads and public transportation.
For this reason, the renovation of a farmhouse is a viable alternative to buying more recently built country homes, ideal for all those who are looking for a home surrounded by greenery without sacrificing modern comforts.
ARTICLE INDEX
Farmhouse: Stylistic, Functional and Structural Features
The characteristics of a farmhouse cannot be classified as standard elements, the same and reproducible everywhere.
This is not possible because every area, in every part of Italy, has its own specific needs which, by means of a standard type house unique for the whole country, cannot be met.
The colonial or rural house has characteristics useful to best serve the farmer's work, the agrarian life, and must therefore reflect the relations between utilitarian purpose and the form best suited to that purpose.
The evolution of farmhouse characteristics precisely demonstrates the dependence of aesthetics on functionality. This evolution is linked to the evolution of cultivation technique, representing the living link between the land and the person who cultivates it.
This interrelationship is demonstrated by the fact that it is from the earth that building materials are derived and it is, for example, in relation to the path of the sun that the rooms of the house are ordered.
Today, farmhouses, as well as other rural buildings such as stables, barns and storehouse, are often victims of abandonment, charming stone buildings and roofs with wooden beams surrounded by vegetation.
Characteristics of the Farmhouse
Farmhouses, in their various types, had recurring functional characteristics.
Generally, the ground floor was used for work related to the conduct of agricultural land, while the second floor was intended for residential use.
The ground floor, depending on the size of the farmhouse, consisted of one or more rooms: • the stable,
• the warehouse,
• the storehouse,
• the cellar.
The second floor of the farmhouse featured two rooms:
• the kitchen
• the bedroom.
The kitchen had a hearth for cooking food, and there was almost always an oven for baking bread.
Farmhouse for Renovation
To renovate a farmhouse means "taking care" and bringing back to life all the typical elements of this ancient folk architecture.
The decorative elements of the farmhouse were generally simple and essential, in keeping with the functional purpose of the entire building.
Among the most common decorative elements of farmhouses were:
• stone doorways and cornices,
• relief window frames made with plaster,
• circular openings made with bricks set in rays,
• metal rings for tying cattle,
• wrought iron elements,
• square stone bureaus,
• covered loggias,
• pigeonholes.
Renovating a farmhouse means knowing how to bring back these ancient elements, and having a great knowledge of the materials and construction techniques of rural farmhouses.
In fact, renovating means intervening to give new life to what was ancient, possibly reinterpreting it with modern elements and innovative materials to guarantee the new owner, welcome, aesthetics but also comfort.
Modern Farmhouse: Ideas and Tips for a Reinterpretation
Renovating a modern farmhouse is an increasingly popular trend, loved by many owners who decide to give a contemporary touch to their rural home.
In order to achieve a modern farmhouse, it is necessary to know how to interpret the spaces, intervening with elements that break away from the previous structure, yet know how to integrate harmoniously and enhance the original architectural language.
One idea for interpreting a farmhouse in a modern style is to use local and indigenous materials, which can therefore work in tandem with the existing structure while having an eye on the performance in terms of comfort and performance of the house.
Therefore, choose valuable raw materials but in accordance with the past, all while favouring modern lines and materials that can guarantee effective thermal insulation.
This will make it possible to obtain a modern farmhouse full of charm and with great habitability
Examples of Modern Farmhouse
Tuscan Farmhouse Renovation
Those visiting the Tuscan countryside for the first time cannot help but admire the great symbiosis of landscape and culture, a continuous dialogue between history and architecture.
The ever-changing colours of the countryside and picturesque hills, different in every season, are the backdrop to typical peasant buildings, namely the Tuscan farmhouses, an architectural heritage today fortunately partly restored thanks to restoration work.
In Tuscany the farmhouse, as well as rural dwellings in general, was linked to the agricultural system established in the medieval age and kept alive until the second half of the 20th century.
The Tuscan farmhouse was able to evolve from the modest two to fourteenth-century "worker's houses," to the turreted masonry dwellings of the sixteenth century, and finally, in the last decades of the eighteenth century, to the farmhouse built to plans, splendid rural constructions echoing the late Renaissance style.
Tuscan Farmhouse Renovation: the dry-stone wall
One of the recurring elements in Tuscan farmhouses is the presence of the "dry-stone wall."
This is a particular type of wall made by superimposing roughly hewn stones with a precise technique, taking care to leave as little space as possible between one stone and the next.
This technique was used in the Tuscan countryside mainly to build terracing or retaining walls for bluffs. In the case of a Tuscan farmhouse renovation, therefore, it is important that the construction company is familiar with the area and the techniques historically used for rural construction. Bringing the ancient back to life is fundamental to a good renovation.
Examples of farmhouses in Tuscany restored by Biemme Restauri
We at Biemme Restauri are experts in farmhouse renovations in Tuscany.
Every day, we focus on finding the raw material that is endowed with tradition and innovation. Biemme's strength is precisely the 360° restoration, from the design phase to the installation and realization of all parts of the house, working with only selected and highly qualified craftsmen.
Farmhouse Restoration, What are the Steps
In case you have decided to restore a farmhouse, it is important to plan in concrete terms all the necessary steps for the complete restoration.
Before starting, it is therefore important to have:
• restoration project;
• metric calculation;
• type of installations;
• type and format of materials;
• permits and authorizations to renovate the house.
Regarding permits, depending on the work to be done, the architect will submit one of the following building permits:
• CILA (Sworn Notice to Begin Work);
• SCIA (Certified Statement of Commencement of Work);
• Building Permit.
Finally, it is important to choose a construction company with proven experience in farmhouse restoration because knowing typical rural materials and architecture is a prerequisite for the success of the project.
Renovated Farmhouses Interior
Interiors when it comes to renovated farmhouses also have their importance as it is crucial that they are fully restored, for example in cases of mould and moisture, but also that we manage to combine the old style with new styles and tastes, all with the utmost harmony.
Here are some examples of farmhouse interiors restored by Biemme Restauri in Tuscany.
Renovating Farmhouse Costs
To renovate a farmhouse what are the costs? Each project is unique in terms of square footage, materials and condition of the house so it is not possible to make exact estimates for all cases and needs.
We at Biemme Restauri are a construction company in Florence with proven experience in the renovation of farmhouses so we prefer to make ad hoc estimates, always offering solutions that can meet any type of budget.
We can provide indicative data for which the cost of renovation of a farmhouse is about € 1500 per square meter if it needs a complete intervention (this is the case, for example, in which we want to renovate an abandoned house).
If no structural work is planned, we can settle on a cost of € 1000 per square meter.
Renovating Farmhouse Costs | Approximate Prices |
COMPLETE INTERVENTION | 1500€ Per square meter |
WITHOUT STRUCTURAL WORKS | 1000€ Per square meter |
FAQ
How much does it cost to renovate a farmhouse?
It is not possible to make rough estimates for all cases and needs. Wanting to generalize, we can indicate the cost of renovation of a farmhouse of about € 1500 per square meter if it needs a complete intervention. If no structural work is planned, we can settle on a cost of € 1000 per square meter
How much does it cost to renovate an abandoned house?
What are farmhouses?
Do you Want to Renovate a Farmhouse in Tuscany?
Contact us Without Commitment for a Free Estimate.