On the edge of a picturesque valley, the former Casolare della Tenuta Fiore, an historic walled-in farm complex is reconceptualized as a 13-suite “fort resort.” Embraced by its protective walls and robust lookout tower, the renamed Torre Fiore is located in the largely undiscovered sublime paesaggio overlooking the Ionian coast of Basilicata, Italy.

The design, in the spirit of the Casale’s storied past, is conceived as a 21st century gentle invasion. Installations of contemporary elements in distressed wood, local and Persian stone, glass and pomegranate upholstery are positioned revealed against the carefully restored vintage structure in anticipation of the newest “invader” – today’s tourist. Travelers eager to venture in this little-known yet extraordinary territory are met with a conception of contrasting interventions of comfort whose richness parallels that of the rustic landscape.

Freestanding, oversized headboards sit skewed in the lofty casede to conceal the glazed bathrooms and rain-head showers that sometimes spill their pristine bathtub out into the open. Strands of foreign materials, such as mirrored glass, marble, leather, and fabrics insert themselves unexpectedly into the new and restored surfaces as a way to expose the surgical interventions which defines this new occupation.

Ultimately, the ruin is brought back to life with great effort to precisely restore the handcrafted roofs, masonry, terracotta tiles, hewn-wood, and whitewashed stucco. The fortification is then somewhat disarmed by a supple and layered architecture to create a loose exclusivity, breached only by the outdoor restaurant terrace and infinity-edge pool that meet the edge of the uncontaminated valley.

The once productive but obsolete farm complex is adaptively reused to host travelers as they discover this little-known area of Italy. The design leverages the raw simplicity of the existing, exquisite structure to achieve an ideal level of comfort by simple means.

The massive masonry offers a natural cooling effect during the hours of hot sun, and the original, generous fireplaces work well to provide occasional supplementary heating during those few, cool nights. The existing, dramatic structures are not just restored and strengthened, but enhanced by the theatrical contrast of the new architecture and landscape elements.

The Torre Fiore experience oscillates between a luxury of comfort and a relaxed informality, between the richness of the rustic landscape and the richness of a contemporary design intervention. The result is a sense of ease, a relaxed luxury enclosed by arched doorways and thick defense walls, protected by turrets and the main tower building whose lower carriage-horse stalls are excavated to render more dramatic their glorious vaults. One- and two-bedroom suites expand beyond existing demising walls through deep openings to encounter original fireplaces and reconstructed timber and terracotta ceilings.