Pailunga
In the heart of the Tuscan countryside, nestled in the quiet landscape of Fauglia, a small deconsecrated chapel is being transformed into a new cultural space named Pailunga.
The intervention takes place within the historic rural estate known as the “Villa di Pailunga”, once “Paglialunga”, a toponym meaning “long straw” which recalls the marshy nature of the area and the tall, wild grasses once harvested here.. For decades, the villa belonged to the distinguished Tuscan family D’Achiardi. The agricultural estate comprised ten farmsteads, with wheat and vineyards, herds of Chianina cattle – a self-contained agricultural microcosm in harmony with the rolling hills. The little church once served as the liturgical and social center for the surrounding community: every Sunday mass was celebrated here by the Salesians, aided by the wide, shaded garden outside, where worshippers could gather and linger.
Over the years, however, the estate fell into disuse, and repeated alterations led to the loss of its original noble character – particularly the chapel, which was left in ruins. The renovation project, commissioned by the composer and psychologist Giulio Fagiolini from Pisa, was born from the desire to restore a spiritual vocation to the place, while giving it a new purpose.
The new dwelling is conceived not only as a private residence, but as a space dedicated to art and creation – an open venue for workshops and cultural events, made available by the owner to artists and creatives seeking a connection with nature and a slower rhythm, away from urban life.
The architectural project is guided by the principle of enhancing what remains and preserving historical traces. Many of these, however, were lost through improper modifications by previous owners. A limited budget further shaped design choices, favoring the reuse of all that was available on site, from valuable elements to humbler ones – embracing the scars of the past and weaving them into a few new architectural gestures.
The original nave of the church has been preserved in its essential spatiality. New functions – such as services, sleeping areas, and vertical circulation – are inserted into the large double-height hall leaving the central volume intact. Along the left longitudinal band are the bathroom, the kitchen, and a self-supporting iron staircase, designed to occupy as little space as possible. The sleeping area occupies a recently built wooden mezzanine, deliberately preserved, overlooking the nave towards the apse like a theater balcony. The color palette, defined by bright tones, lends the interiors a pop character, softening spaces that might otherwise feel austere. The chromatic choices also reflect the intention to create a sharp contrast between the new insertions and the existing structure.
The bright blue of the iron staircase, though inspired by the fragment of fresco still visible in the apse, stands out against the sacredness of the space, as do the vivid finishes, furnishings, and new window fixtures. The characteristic shapes of the balustrade echo the geometric figures on the façade: the triangular pediment and the circular rose window.
The first block of the staircase, in white iron and formulated in a sober and essentialist language, was designed to be removable, so it can be moved during concerts and leave the apse fully visible. The apse itself, now dedicated to the piano, becomes the symbolic fulcrum of the union between artistic expression and the spiritual vocation of the place.
Just as the interior design was guided by the will to highlight the existing, so too the exterior of Pailunga has been left untouched: no artificial alteration has been imposed. The pre-existing greenery remains, an act of listening to the unprompted landscape . The numerous local holm oaks create precious shaded areas, ready to welcome artists-in-residence.
The connection with the natural surroundings is preserved inside as well: the existing windows frame the landscape in colored borders, offering sublime glimpses, while the skylight in the roof opens directly to the sky. Despite the modest scale of the intervention, careful attention has been paid to the sustainability of design solutions. The choice to collaborate with local artisans and craftsmen – such as for the custom-made iron staircase – helped to highlight territorial know-how while reducing costs and transportation.
Thus, Pailunga defines itself as an intimate and silent place, far from urban frenzy and immersed in greenery, where time slows down and the creative act can rediscover a spiritual and evolutionary dimension. It is an essential refuge where guests can reconnect with their own soul, with space, and with the landscape.
A house for art, anchored in the present yet projected into a timeless dimension, Pailunga is not merely to be considered a former place of worship adapted for residential and artistic use, but a stage for human creativity – capable of nourishing the soul and revealing the sacred within the everyday.
