Meet the couple who turned a £44k Italian ruin into a dream home

Meet the architects who turned a hilltop ruin into a sustainable home

After buying an old, rundown stone house in the hills of Liguria, Italy, architect couple Maddalena Cerruti and Vincent Baisnée set about transforming it into the ultimate sustainable home.

Renovating the building from scratch, room by room, they used natural and locally sourced materials to turn the crumbling structure into a property that respects their health, the environment and the building's history.

Step inside and discover the story behind their amazing natural renovation project.

All dollar values in US dollars.

A meeting of minds

So, where did it all begin for the Italian/French couple? "We met in 2018 while volunteering for an architecture NGO in Tanzania," Maddalena says. "We soon discovered we shared a similar idea about sustainable architecture and designing homes that respect the planet. After this, we worked in Australia and lived in a van for almost two years, to save money. We returned to Europe and decided to begin ateliermavi, our architecture studio. We wanted our inaugural project to be our first home."

Shopping for a home

The pair began looking for a fixer-upper that was not too far from their respective families. “Vince is from Aix-en-Provence in France and I’m from Genova, Italy. We began looking at online listings in France but couldn't find anything within budget, so we turned our search to Italy. We viewed around 10 homes until we found a rundown house in Liguria, close to the border between our two countries.”

Rescuing a ruin

The historic property was listed for €65,000 (£53.5k/$68.3k), which was above the couple's budget, but since it was derelict, with no electricity or water connection, they decided to put in a low offer of €44,000 (£36.2k/$46.2k). Amazingly, it was accepted. With taxes and other legal fees, the couple spent €53,000 on the house, which equates to just £43,600 ($55.7k).

This image shows the building when the couple first received the keys. "The house was a complete ruin," Vince says. "We don’t know the exact year it was constructed, but it's at least 100 years old. In the late 19th century, it was used for animal grazing and later as a family summer house."

Crumbling but charming

Crafted from local stone, the petite property spans just 807 square feet (75sqm), but it was perfect for the pair and their dog, Caiù. While it needed a lot of work, it provided amazing views of the surrounding valley and offered plenty of charm and potential.

The interior of the structure, which had been vacant for more than 30 years, had slowly been taken over by Mother Nature, leading to crumbling mortar, broken windows, a damaged roof and rooms filled with debris, junk and pests.

Getting started

For most young couples, the idea of taking on such a challenging renovation would be extremely daunting, but Maddalena and Vincent are both experienced architects and already have a good knowledge base. "During our time in Tanzania, we helped to build an adobe house for a doctor," Vince says. "Maddalena had previously participated in a similar project in Ghana and, while they were not entirely managed by us, they gave us the motivation to start a similar one of our own."

The entire structure needed to be repaired and restored, but the grounds were also overgrown and needed immediate attention.

Seven garden terraces

The 32,292-square-foot (3,000sqm) garden is laid out over seven staggered terraces, so the first job was to clear the site and tackle the overgrown plants that had slowly taken over.

A big job, the couple worked on the grounds during winter 2020/2021 and, after several weeks, could finally see the boundary of their land. However, clearing the site in its entirety took a staggering six months in total. After this, the couple added some plants and crops to their vegetable garden.

Moving inside

Once the garden was sorted, the couple could get started with clearing the interior. Another huge task, the messy job was an essential first step, allowing Maddalena and Vincent to finally see the size and shape of their home's interior. The couple planned to strip the property and rebuild it using natural materials and techniques.

“We firmly believe that architecture should be made with natural materials and those that can be reused or recycled later, or returned to nature, with a low or negative carbon footprint," Maddalena says. "These materials, such as timber, lime, earth and straw, allow the house to breathe and create a healthy environment for those living there."

Dismantling the roof

Once the interior was empty, Maddalena and Vincent were free to take on one of the biggest jobs of their renovation: the old roof.

It was in a sorry state, so needed to be carefully dismantled and rebuilt, using products and materials that would render the home watertight and structurally sound. Everything from the old tiles to the rotting timber trusses had to be removed.

Remains of a ruin

As well as the roof, the couple also had to remove the internal walls. "Partly made of cement, clay and lime, they were crumbling down, so it was a mandatory step of the renovation," Maddalena explains. They then spent a lot of time and energy removing the old plaster that was covering the remaining structural walls.

Amazingly, the couple single-handedly removed 141 cubic feet (4m³) of old plaster. "Once this was done, we were able to re-plaster the inside walls with a hemp and lime mix. This provides natural insulation to help keep the home warm."

Structural issues

In November 2021, the couple hired local builders to demolish the back stone wall of the home. "We love DIY and self-construction but legally, when renovating in Italy, it's not possible to entirely renovate with your own hands. Italian building laws allow DIY only within 'edilizia libera', which includes all the finishing works, such as painting, floor laying and plastering," Vince explains.

The rear wall was in bad shape, so the couple needed to remove it and then dig out a huge piece of terrain to make space for a new retaining wall. This new wall, seen in this image, holds up the earth bank of the site, allowing new exterior walls to safely be built at the back of the house.

Rebuilding the roof

After months of waiting, the couple's roofer was finally able to get started on building a new, modern roof. They crafted and installed new timber rafters, on top of which hemp fiber insulation panels were laid.

"We wanted to cover the roof with coppi, or similar Portuguese-style tiles," Vince says. "We even considered big stone slabs, as it was originally. Unfortunately, the municipality asked for a roof surfaced with Marseillaise tiling, with a flat finish. We had to follow many rules according to national and local building codes."

Salvaging materials

During the process of removing the roof, the couple managed to save two chestnut beams and, instead of throwing them away, opted to put them to use.

They used the timber to make almost a dozen lintels for their windows. "We cut the beams to length, sanded them down, treated the wood and finally placed the lintels above the window frames," Maddalena says.

Sealing the roof

After spending nine months without any cover over their heads, Maddalena and Vince's new roof was finally finished.

They were also able to begin rebuilding the external walls they were forced to remove, to create the bathroom and kitchen area. "We used one-foot [30cm] hemp blocks on a breezeblocks base to isolate the new walls from the ground," Maddalena says. "And we had experience with neither!"

Old meets new

This image shows the new walls complete. The couple then clad them with their salvaged stones, to ensure the exterior looked uniform. "It was a really long and hard process, but we finally got there," Vince says.

Eco materials

This photograph shows the result, with the new rear walls built up to the concrete retaining wall, finished in local stone and topped with a brand-new roof. So, how did the couple source all of these eco materials?

“After some research, we found suppliers close by and slowly built up a good network of distributors and manufacturers of natural products," Maddalena explains. "We also visited local second-hand markets."

Starting on the floors

Finally, it was time to start work on the internal floors. The couple's builder excavated the ground, digging down 1.1 feet (35cm) to ensure the interior floor level matched the ground level outside.

"We then added a layer of gravel that will keep the subfloor ventilated," Vince says. "After this, we poured out hempcrete screed over the top, to complete our insulating subfloor."

Creating rooms

Once the screed floor was set, the duo could install their stud walls, to carve off their internal rooms. "To maximise natural light, we chose to place the living areas to the south of the building," Maddalena says.

Insulation, insulation, insulation

Once the timber stud walls were in place, the pair started installing dry-wall (Fermacell) and hemp fibre insulation to ensure interior warmth.

Insulation reduces heat loss through interior walls, increasing the home's thermal performance.

Custom windows

Next, the architects asked their builders to reinforce their windows with reclaimed oak beams, before the glazing was installed.

They hired a local carpenter to create custom timber windows, spending €18,000, or £14.8k ($19k). While this sounds like a big expense, having airtight, highly efficient windows is an extremely important part of creating a healthy, energy-efficient home.

Getting airtight

This image shows the lovely timber frame windows in place. Finally, the property was air and watertight. This allowed the couple to get started on more important jobs inside the home.

Plastering problems

One of the biggest jobs was plastering the internal walls, including the new hempblock walls that were constructed at the rear. This image shows the couple plastering the very last wall in their home, in June 2023.

"Our Fermacell walls needed a lot of preparation before they could be plastered," Vince says. "This included filling, scratching, vacuuming and mudding."

Dressing the stone

Of course, the original stone walls also needed attention. The couple had already removed all the old mortar and concrete that was covering their internal walls, so were able to begin repointing the stone once the windows were in.

Let there be light!

This image shows the finish of the main living space, with its gorgeous wood ceiling, lime plaster walls and timber windows. By October 2023, the home had electricity and, importantly, light.

"We had to wait three years for lights," Maddalena says. "After this, we could paint the walls and install the flooring."

Laying the floors

For their internal floors, the couple chose reclaimed terracotta bricks and each one had to be carefully prepared, ready to be laid. "This involved sanding each brick and leaving them to soak in water for at least 24 hours, to prevent them from drawing water from the screed during installation," Vince says. "Next, we created a screed mixture, applied it to the floor and ensured it was level, sprinkled a little lime on the screed and slightly wet it, then lay the terracotta bricks on top."

In some rooms, the couple laid the tiles in a simple linear pattern, while in others they went for a lovely herringbone design. "The hardest part was managing the difference in thickness between each tile," Vince says. "We then grouted and naturally treated them, to seal them."

Creating a cosy living room

The couple also built their own stand for their brand-new wood-burning stove, which decorates the main living area.

"Our home is heated by a very efficient wood stove and to reduce the consumption of our electric water heater, we installed a solar thermal system," Vince says. "The house being quite compact and well insulated, this is enough to have a very comfortable space to live, in both winter and summer."

A welcoming living space

This stunning room is the couple's finished open-plan living area. At one end, you'll find their dining space, while at the other there's a snug lounge. The ceiling and wood burner really add a cosy feel.

The furniture you can see was mostly sourced from second-hand shops in the local area.

Perfect for entertaining

Here is a close-up of the couple's dining space. Perfect for easy weekday dinners and hosting, it's big enough for an intimate dinner party and the table sits next to several windows and a glazed door, which opens onto an exterior patio.

DIY kitchen

The kitchen is located at the rear of the home, next to the bathroom. For this area, the couple used reclaimed terracotta floor tiles and bought a self-assembly kitchen from Cubro.

"The cabinets are made from birch plywood and linoleum, a material that has natural origins. It's made from cork powder, conifer resin and linseed oil," Maddalena explains.

An eco-conscious cooking spot

The couple put together the units themselves, before installing them along one wall.

They added a stainless-steel splashback and created a built-in niche pantry for storing everyday essentials.

Polished bathroom walls

Of course, the couple also needed a bathroom. They applied a lime and screed floor and a rough lime render to the walls, followed by a traditional waterproof plaster called Pastellone. "This waterproof lime plaster was one of the hardest things we had to do during the project," Vince recalls.

"Pastellone is historically formed from two layers, the substrate (slaked lime and inert materials) and the pastina (equal parts marble powder and slaked lime). The mixture is applied in several layers and then polished. The result is a compact, ecological, durable, smooth and shiny surface. Pastellone is also eco-friendly and respects green building principles."

Ready for a spa session

In December 2023, the plumber arrived to sort the fixtures for the bathrooms and, a month later, the couple's wastewater treatment setup was installed. These images show the finished master bathroom.

Decorated with the rich, textural tones of the soft pink Pastellone plaster, the space features a handmade walk-in shower, with a frameless shower panel, a toilet, a sink and a bidet. Globe-shaped pendant lights hang from the ceiling, adding to the chic finish of the space.

A reclaimed patio

The couple also created a lovely patio, using the old stone slabs that were originally inside the house. They also plan to repoint the outside walls themselves at a later date.

As for what they've learnt during the project, they have lots of takeaways. "During the last three years we've learned a lot of technical skills, but first and foremost we discovered our endurance," Maddalena says. "The renovation has allowed us to go beyond our profession and to combine two different aspects of architecture: the theoretical one and the practical one. We are convinced that only by combining these two areas can we arrive at a thorough knowledge of materials and techniques.”

Breathtaking backyard views

The couple has now moved into the restored Italian property, but they admit there are still plenty of details that need to be finished. "Unfortunately the house is not finished yet," Vince says.

“But the thing that makes us most happy and satisfied is undoubtedly the thermal comfort inside the house. By adding an insulated roof, reducing – where possible – thermal bridges and utilising thermo-plaster made of lime and hemp, we have taken the house from energy class G to energy class A4 (the highest!)."

Next chapter

We asked the couple to share their advice for anyone looking to undertake a similar project and their input is very practical. “Never underestimate the job or the budget,” they said. “Be strong in difficult times; every renovation has them, but it’s worth it in the end. Undertaking a renovation and launching an independent architectural studio at the same time was a big job. Now we are happily putting our skills and knowledge to the service of our clients."

If you would like Maddalena and Vincent's help designing your renovation project, then you can reach out to them. Check out the couple's amazing renovation videos on their YouTube channel and keep up to date with their progress via their Instagram page.