- Project: Villa Il Gioiello
- Architect: Pierattelli Architetture
- Location: Italy, Florence
- Year: 2024
- Area: 700 m2
- Photography: Pierattelli Architetture
A Dialogue Between Past and Present
Perched in the hills of Arcetri, overlooking Florence’s historic center, Villa Il Gioiello by Pierattelli Architetture is a profound conversation between heritage and modernity.
The project transforms a stately 1950s residence—named after the original Il Gioiello, once home to Galileo Galilei—into a refined single-family dwelling that honors Tuscan tradition while embracing contemporary design sensibilities.
Distributed across five levels totaling 700 m² and connected by both sculptural staircases and an internal lift, the villa redefines domestic luxury through proportion, light, and craft. Each floor narrates a different aspect of Florentine living, combining restored historic fabric with newly integrated modern comforts.
Restoring the Essence of a Florentine Villa
The renovation preserves the villa’s structural integrity and spirit, enhancing its architectural identity through meticulous restoration and elegant reinterpretation.
Original Tuscan elements—arched loggias, vaulted ceilings, reclaimed teak parquet, and exposed wooden beams—were retained and restored.
Outside, the landscape and infinity pool were reimagined in collaboration with landscape architect Gianni Medoro, a disciple of Pietro Porcinai. The pool, lined in white quartzite, anchors the garden as a luminous horizon, complemented by terracotta paths, stone terraces, and aromatic Mediterranean vegetation.
Reimagined Interiors and Spatial Continuity
The ground floor maintains the stately proportions typical of period Florentine villas.
A double-height living area crowned with a cross-vaulted ceiling forms the social heart of the home. Here, restored teak floors meet custom furniture designed by Pierattelli Architetture, while a soft lighting scheme enhances the vaulted geometry.
The kitchen, conceived as a modern reinterpretation of the traditional Tuscan hearth, pairs artisan-crafted teak cabinetry with stone countertops in a minimalist composition. Adjacent, the dining room—framed by three arched windows overlooking the garden—features a striking Corten-steel and wood staircase that serves as both connector and sculptural centerpiece.
Throughout, Pierattelli’s team designed bespoke furnishings to articulate architectural geometry: the reading room’s geometric bookcase in Canaletto walnut with brushed-brass inserts and indirect lighting exemplifies the home’s material harmony. On the mezzanine, newly introduced spaces such as a home-theatre and hi-fi room merge leisure with design precision.
Private Spaces of Calm and Character
The master suite on the first floor opens to a covered loggia—a private outdoor lounge that frames panoramic views of the Tuscan hills.
A sculptural Canaletto-walnut staircase with a transparent parapet ascends gracefully within the space, while reclaimed teak floors arranged in tiled patterns with Indian-teak borders echo the villa’s artisanal legacy.
Walls and ceilings are wrapped in walnut panelling, integrating hidden doors that lead to a walk-in wardrobe. The combination of tactile warmth and precise detailing transforms the suite into a sanctuary of understated luxury.
Below, the basement level houses a gym and wellness zone complete with sauna and spa, embodying the project’s seamless blend of tradition and modern living.
Light Above Florence: The Attic Guest Apartment
The attic floor, accessed via the main staircase, has been restructured into a self-contained guest apartment featuring a skylit bedroom, living area, and private bath.
A new steel floor slab extends through much of the first floor, increasing the usable area and establishing a dynamic vertical relationship between spaces.
Natural light floods the interior through new roof windows, highlighting the villa’s renewed spatial rhythm and its dialogue with the Florentine sky.
History and Context: From Galileo’s Legacy to Modern Design
The name Villa Il Gioiello—literally “The Jewel”—carries profound historical resonance. The original Il Gioiello villa in Arcetri was Galileo Galilei’s final residence (1631–1642), now preserved as a national monument.
Pierattelli Architetture’s contemporary project pays homage to this legacy of knowledge and observation, aligning architecture with light, landscape, and learning.
The building’s U-shaped plan embraces a courtyard, while its street façade retains a disciplined geometry of stone-framed windows and subtle memorial detailing, linking the renovation to Florence’s architectural lineage.
Art, Materiality, and Timeless Luxury
Art remains integral to Villa Il Gioiello’s atmosphere. Works by Alighiero Boetti, Ettore Spalletti, Jannis Kounellis, and Mario Schifano punctuate the interiors, creating a dialogue between twentieth-century Italian art and the villa’s serene material palette.
The use of travertine, marble, Canaletto walnut, teak, and brushed metal fosters visual continuity between floors. Every junction, from stair railing to brass detailing, reflects Italian craftsmanship at its most refined.
Conclusion
Villa Il Gioiello by Pierattelli Architetture is a living testament to Florence’s dual identity—historic yet forward-looking, intimate yet monumental.
Through careful restoration, material integrity, and an architectural language rooted in Tuscan authenticity, Pierattelli’s team has created a residence that transcends time: a fusion of memory, art, and modern elegance suspended above the city of Galileo.
