Residenza Hortus, the hand of time

Its name is inspired by the contemplative vibe so typical of Sicilian kitchen gardens. Situated in the heart of Modica, with a view of the Duomo di San Giorgio, Residenza Hortus is a stunning property dating back to the mid-16th century. Thanks to a sumptuous renovation project by Anime a Sud, is has now been transformed into a sophisticated hospitality facility.

The main objective of the renovation project was to keep the soul of the place intact, celebrating its traces of times gone by through the use of bioarchitecture solutions. In total, the property spans 350sq m, 175 of which is made up of walled garden.

The sartorial elegance of the project is underlined by the use of local materials and furniture produced in the surrounding area, with a well-balanced mix of design elements by established Italian brands thrown in.

Outside, the large table covered with tiles made from lava stone was made to measure by Made a Mano from Caltagirone. It is paired with chairs from the Ivy line by Emu, with the transparent elements allowing the furniture to virtually blend into the rest of the garden.

Meanwhile, the ancient stone tank – which has been salvaged and turned into a hydro-massage hot tub – is joined by the Afra armchair and Float pouf by Paola Lenti, both in a fresh, Mediterranean turquoise colour. Paola Lenti is also behind the outdoor sofa positioned on the panoramic terrace floored with limestone slats.

The indoor spaces are set out in a way that fully respects the original layout of the building.
The lounge features the oversized
Glow-In sofa designed by Marc Sadler for Désirée of the Euromobil Group, while the adjacent bespoke kitchen with island was designed by Giunta Cucine from Modica.

The stone and decoration seen in the three suites are each inspired by a different natural element (water, fire and air). All feature stunning engraved stone headboards and decorated lava-stone tiles by Made a Mano. The stone sinks were made to measure by Luca Giannini, who was the curator and driving force behind the project.

“When we decided to renovate Residenza Hortus, we wanted to make sure we paid close attention to the surrounding area and tried to create a dialogue between old and new,” he explains. “As an artist, I was particularly keen to make this place unique by combining pieces of furniture with my own paintings and sculptures, in order to share my personal story with the guests that stay here.”