Italian architecture practice Solum has completed an innovative coastal residence in Sicily that features a distinctive maze-like design with narrow alleyways winding between monolithic cubic volumes and private patios. Named Patio House, the striking home is situated on a long, narrow site in Avola that extends toward the Mediterranean Sea and terminates at a dramatic rocky cliff.
The architectural concept emerged from the challenge of balancing expansive coastal views with the intimate atmosphere of what the designers describe as an "introverted oasis." To achieve this balance, Solum divided the home's living spaces into individual cubic volumes, each accompanied by its own private patio. These distinct elements are connected by a carefully carved walkway that winds between high walls, creating what the studio characterizes as a "labyrinthine" circulation route.
"The project develops from the challenge of connecting the house's entrance and circulation to the living area facing the sea," explained Lorenzo Campagna, co-founder of Solum. "The villa is thus conceived around this issue, creating a promenade that connects the entrance to the sea while distributing the more private spaces along the way." He added that "this alley winds through the house, generating transitional spaces and two small squares that provide access to the bedrooms."
The journey through the residence begins in a landscaped parking area, where visitors encounter the first bedroom screened by an eye-catching perforated brick wall and lush plantings. From this entrance point, the home's distinctive open-air alleyway provides access to four additional bedrooms. Each bedroom is wrapped by rendered masonry walls with minimal openings, featuring only glass doors that open onto dedicated private patios.
The circulation route culminates at the rear of the property, where the main living, dining, and kitchen areas open dramatically onto an external patio through floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors. A staircase from this area leads to a rooftop terrace that offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. The architects designed the walls as "a continuous gesture, producing a labyrinth-like effect visible from the rooftop terrace."
Solum chose the home's monolithic forms and pale rendered finishes specifically to reference the colors and textures of the surrounding soil and coastal cliffs. This design approach extends to the interior spaces, which feature exposed concrete ceilings paired with a palette of natural materials and earthy tones for the bedroom furnishings. "A key intention of the project is to minimize its impact on the surrounding landscape," Campagna noted. "It is built entirely in masonry, matching the colors of the soil and concealing the glazed openings from the outside."
Within this neutral architectural palette of walls, ceilings, and concrete floors, the designers incorporated dark-stained okoume wood and marine plywood inserts to define functional elements such as doors, wardrobes, and kitchen cabinetry. The material choices reinforce the home's connection to its coastal setting while maintaining a sophisticated, minimalist aesthetic throughout.
The outdoor spaces extend the home's design philosophy with a dining area sheltered by a protective canopy that leads to a swimming pool surrounded by a lava stone terrace. Beyond the pool area, a stretch of manicured lawn guides the eye toward the dramatic coastal cliffs that define the property's eastern boundary.
Solum, founded in Milan in 2019 by Campagna alongside partners Mattia Agates, Filippo Gismondi, and Alessandro Loda, has established itself as an innovative voice in contemporary Italian architecture. The Patio House project demonstrates the studio's commitment to creating architecture that responds sensitively to its natural environment while providing modern living spaces that prioritize privacy and connection to the landscape. Photography of the completed project was captured by Nicolo Panzeri, documenting how the home's labyrinthine design creates a unique residential experience that balances openness with intimacy along Sicily's dramatic coastline.
