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A Brutalist Behemoth Left Deserted for Decades Comes Back to Life for €102K

By Cosmopolitan Canada

A Brutalist Behemoth Left Deserted for Decades Comes Back to Life for €102K

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In northern Italy, a couple spent years carefully restoring a 1971 masterwork by architect Carlo Graffi designed (appropriately) for the owner of a concrete company.

"It was completely abandoned, completely impossible to imagine life here at the beginning," Roberto Mazzilli says of the brutalist 1971 home he bought with his partner, Fabian Nagel, in 2019. Set in the district of Cumiana, southwest of Turin, Italy, the dwelling was designed by Italian architect Carlo Graffi for businessman Riccardo Gontero. Its sharp edges and cantilevered levels made of reinforced concrete were a calling card for Gontero, who owned a concrete factory, although it’s always been an oddity in this part of Italy. After he died, it stood empty for 16 years.

A brutalist masterwork in the north of Italy, designed by architect Carlo Graffi in 1971 for the owner of a concrete company, had been uninhabited for 16 years when Fabian Nagel and Roberto Mazzilli (from left) purchased it in 2019. The couple’s sparing restoration left the home’s exterior virtually unchanged and the interior only modestly updated.
A brutalist masterwork in the north of Italy, designed by architect Carlo Graffi in 1971 for the owner of a concrete company, had been uninhabited for 16 years when Fabian Nagel and Roberto Mazzilli (from left) purchased it in 2019. The couple’s sparing restoration left the home’s exterior virtually unchanged and the interior only modestly updated. Photo: Andrea Wyner

When Roberto and Fabian found it, vegetation had overrun the garden and was creeping up the concrete walls. But Fabian had a vision of what this home could be, and undeterred by the work that lay ahead, the couple snapped it up for the price of an apartment in Turin. Armed with an initial budget of €90,000, they set to work.

The living area features original travertine floors, stairs, and built-in benches. A woven coconut rug adds warmth.
The living area features original travertine floors, stairs, and built-in benches. A woven coconut rug adds warmth. "People think from the outside that the inside will also be cold and aggressive, but it’s actually quite warm," says Fabian. The dining table is by Alessandro Roelli and the chair is from The Masie. Photo: Andrea Wyner

Clearing the garden revealed a series of pathways around the massive structure set against the dramatic backdrop of the Alps. Fabian, who works in car design, was drawn to the home’s jutting silhouette, which he feels has a sort of momentum. One wing leads from the central living space to a TV room, two offices, two bedrooms, and a large balcony facing the swimming pool, while the other wing holds the kitchen and dining area and another spacious balcony. A spiraling metal staircase runs from the basement, past the pool deck, and up through the sleeping area to the roof. The semicircular structure atop the concrete column that encircles the staircase was originally used as a water tank, although it now sits empty.

€4,000Wall Finishes€700Flooring€45,000Roofing
€16,000Electrical€3,000Plumbing€6,000HVAC Equipment
€6,000Landscaping€2,000Kitchen & Bath Fixtures€300Lighting
€4,000Furnishings & Decor€1,000Waste/Debris Removal€2,000Pool Renovation & Paint
€12,000Pool Filter System
Grand Total: €102,000
In a corner of the living area, a small table surrounded by vintage Breuer Cesca chairs has multiple uses:
In a corner of the living area, a small table surrounded by vintage Breuer Cesca chairs has multiple uses: "We play cards there or work on our laptops," says Fabian. "It’s also nice for an aperitivo with friends." Wire runners near the ceiling hold the new electrical cables. Photo: Andrea Wyner

See the full story on Dwell.com: A Brutalist Behemoth Left Deserted for Decades Comes Back to Life for €102K
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