Architectural model of the old priest house in Trastanello

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The Model – Holding Trastanello in Hand

There are moments in this project when distance becomes part of the story. One of them happened during a winter in England, in the quiet of the studio, where the old priest's house in Trastanello took shape again—this time as a model.

Built carefully and in exact proportion to the real structure we measured on site, the model became a precise and almost tactile reflection of the house. Every wall, every angle, every relationship between spaces was translated into a smaller scale. But more than accuracy, it carried something else—a sense of connection.

Working on it day after day, it felt as if a piece of Trastanello was present there in England. In a time when we were physically away, the model kept us mentally and emotionally anchored to the project. It allowed us to continue thinking, imagining, and developing ideas as if we were still on site.

It also became a tool for exploring the future. One part of the house—what we call the tower, the tallest section—remains open to interpretation. Through the model, we began testing different approaches, including the possibility of introducing a subtle 21st-century layer into the historic structure. The intention is not contrast for its own sake, but a careful dialogue between old and new.

One of the ideas considers a more contemporary expression using natural materials, such as wooden shingles, allowing modern architecture to blend rather than dominate.

The model, in this sense, is not just a representation of what exists. It is a space for thinking—a place where past, present, and possible futures meet.