Aristo House / Tom Thys Architecten

Architects: Tom Thys architecten
Area: 145 m²
Year: 2020
Photography: Lorenzo Zandri
Lead Architects: Tom Thys
Landscape Design: Bart Ureel
Design/Presentation: Tom Thys, Katrien Lommaert, Siebrent Willems, Alexander Van Gestel
Program / Use / Building Function: Holiday home
City: Palmoli
Country: Italy

Aristo House, a holiday home designed by Tom Thys Architecten in Palmoli, Italy, has revitalized a historical building from 1914. Situated on a slope of the Trigno Valley, the house offers expansive views of the hills, woods, and fields of Abruzzo. Completed in 2020, the design strips the structure down to its essentials, inspired by the works of Andrea Palladio and Dom Hans van der Laan. The house features three rooms in a symmetrical layout: a living space and two bedrooms. The interior blends original brickwork with clear, linear structures and soft, natural colors. A unique mezzanine under the roof and an open-air shower connecting to the pool highlight the retreat-like atmosphere. This minimalist approach ensures clarity, simplicity, and a rich spatial experience.

Belgian architect Tom Thys has breathed new life into the Aristo House. This historical building, dating back to 1914, is perched on the slopes of the Trigno Valley, offering breathtaking views of Abruzzo’s hills, woods, and fields.

A purist and tranquil place, from nature to architecture, the Aristo House is inspired by classical design language and has been reduced to its essentials. The result is a space that is both effective and serene, featuring original brickwork, clear linear room structures, soft natural colors, and simple yet high-quality furnishings.

Inspiration is drawn from Andrea Palladio and Dom Hans van der Laan, with the house consisting of three ‘rooms’—a living space and two bedrooms—in a symmetrical layout. The technique of ‘dynamic superposition’ incorporates a staircase, desk, bathroom, and two mezzanines into a single, flowing space that permeates the house. Clarity and simplicity are paired with a rich spatial experience.

The interior comprises a large living room on the ground floor and two symmetrically arranged bedrooms on the first floor, each with a large double bed and expansive valley views. A bathroom with a circular mirror and a small writing corner are integrated into the hallway.

A unique mezzanine level under the roof offers additional relaxation and sleeping space, accessible only by a ladder, fitting for a retreat. The kitchen-living room, featuring a fireplace and sofa, is free of practical utensils, which are stored in two small adjoining rooms.

Thoughts can drift freely through the house, whether on its many levels, the terrace with its meditative view, or by the pool stretching into the landscape. An open-air shower connects the pool to the building, and wooden shutters provide light play and shade during hot summer days.