Monday, February 25, 2013

Sotto Le Stelle 06 - Stone Works

Cisternino, Puglia, Italy.

Since our visit last weekend the builder has been working hard implementing a number of the decisions...

Expanding the niche at the top of the stairs
Expanding the niche

The niche at the top of the entrance stairs is being expanded down to floor level to provide storage probably for coats. Every cc of storage space is vital is this apartment.

Dividing wall removal 1/2
Removing the dividing wall

The big decision was to remove the dividing wall between the two rooms. This is possible because it is not structural. The dismantling is being done carefully because we expect to recycle a number of the stones for blocking up a doorway and possible works on the roof. Already you can see how spectacular the vaulted ceiling will be. The dividing line will need to be sand-blasted to bring it up to the same colour as the rest.

Re-framing the well head niche
Re-framing the well head niche

The right hand edge of the well head was lower quality tufa - a soft porous rock - now replaced with better quality stone at Saverio's suggestion. We will retain the pulley wheel as a feature, possibly with a miniature bucket for a bit of whimsy. The well shaft itself will be blocked off; the cistern below is no longer in use and has been opened up as a garage underneath the building.

Terrace - Lighting wiring
Terrace - Lighting wiring

There will be lighting and a power socket or two round the edge of the roof terrace for the balmy Italian summer evenings on the roof.

Terrace - chimneys
Terrace - chimneys

The stainless steel exhaust chimney from the "fornello pronto" on the ground floor has been lowered and is being encased in stone. All the neighbours' chimneys will be aesthetically improved with a stone casing.

Terrace - roof access, boiler niche
Terrace - roof access, boiler niche

The central heating boiler will be housed in a newly-created external niche, mainly, it would appear, on safety grounds. That also has the advantage of not taking up internal space. We are not having a solar panel and hot water tank on the roof. It would appear that the design of modern boilers means that it doesn't make economic nor environmental sense.

Only four weeks till our next visit when we choose the kitchen fittings. I am expecting to see big changes.

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