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Besides the pool is a desert cactus garden which blends in with the rugged terrain. -
Villa Normanni -
Villa Normanni -
Villa Normanni -
Villa Normanni -
Villa Normanni -
Large folding windows orient both villas toward the pool and olive grove, dissolving the threshold between inside and out. -
Villa Normanni -
The al fresco dining area and kitchen. -
Villa Normanni -
Cromia 1369 tiles by Giovanni de Maio add a pop of colour to the one of the three en-suite bedrooms in the main villa. -
Villa Normanni -
The second en-suite bedroom features a loamy palette. -
Villa Normanni -
The third en-suite bedroom has a view towards the front garden. -
In the back garden at the end of a small pathway from the house is a secluded barbecue and fireplace. -
The small luxurious house opposite the main Villa overlooks the pool. -
The bedroom in the small villa is the only original room on the property and features an arched stone ceiling. -
The bathroom is finished in neutral tones and textures. -
The lounge features soft neutral furnishings from Bolia and ZARA HOME. -
The Pina figures on top of the second villa's roof is a traditional symbol of the region.
Rather than relying on spectacle, Markéta and Lars Killi’s contemporary holiday home in Puglia pays homage to a quieter form of Mediterranean living – one shaped by the rugged landscape, climate and material traditions of the region.
WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Cosimo Calabrese, Duotono Fotografia
Markéta and Lars Killi’s renovated holiday home near San Vito dei Normanni is as idyllic as its setting suggests. Surrounded by olive groves, with the Adriatic and Ionian seas just on the horizon, it is easy to see why the creative duo immediately recognised the potential of Villa Normanni’s location.
As an interior architect and designer, Markéta was closely involved in every aspect of the build. “Although conceived primarily as an investment, the project soon acquired a strong personal dimension. My role as the design’s author was closely intertwined with the active involvement of my husband as a creative professional,” she says.
The renovation comprises a newly built ‘main villa’ and a smaller counterpart adapted from an existing lamia – a small, single-storey agricultural structure typical of the region.
Drawing from its context, the main villa, with its white-plastered facade, integrates characteristic regional elements: an external staircase leading to a walkable roof; softened edges; a chimney and pillars in traditional forms; walls of local tufo stone; reed-covered shading; and floors of pietra Leccese. These details embed the architecture naturally into its olive-grove surroundings. The palette reinforces this relationship, with green-grey window frames set against the luminous white forms.
Designed with privacy and comfort in mind, the villa boasts three en-suite bedrooms and a central living space that opens onto the dining and kitchen area. Supporting facilities, such as the laundry and storage, are discreetly set apart.
Inside, natural materials such as wood, linen, rattan and stone define the spaces. These diverse textures and tones create an understated yet inviting atmosphere.
The smaller villa functions as a private apartment with a living room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. Like the main villa, its architectural treatment deliberately evokes the impression of a lamia; its facade and interiors are therefore conceived with a distinct character.
Reflecting its recreational purpose and Mediterranean climate, the living spaces extend outdoors through a series of complementary features – pergolas, verandas, an outdoor kitchen, a fireplace terrace, a sun deck with a pool and covered parking. urbaninterior.cz | villanormanni.com
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