Produced in partnership with Peter Lewis Paint, this film explores a 17th-century fortified farmstead meticulously revived to honor its defensive past while creating a modern sanctuary defined by white lime-wash, local stone, and a philosophy of profound simplicity.

Left abandoned for more than fifty years, the property was purchased by a group of Antipodean friends including Peter Lewis (of Peter Lewis Paints) and Australian restaurateur Tony Papas. Their mutual adoration for the Italian coastline led to a creative brief focused on preserving the two-story, eight-bedroom farmhouse while prioritizing natural materials and reinvigorating the prized central courtyard.

Working with local architect Aldo Flore of Flore & Venezia Architects, the team treated the Masseria not as a simple country house, but as a monument. “The project’s mission was to transform the rooms but to leave the history inside and continue the past for the next generation,” says Aldo. The architectural narrative is defined by a natural palette of timbers, iron, and Peter Lewis Paint limewashes.

To maintain the historic atmosphere, the chalk and zinc-based Ostuni White was applied to both interior and exterior walls. This patinated finish allowed Aldo to seamlessly connect the old with the new, creating a textured, lived-in feeling that celebrates the “poetry of the rough.” At its essence, Masseria Mangiamuso is a story of home and a deep connection to the land. As Aldo reflects: “The relationship between the building and the field around it is very important for wellness, or the soul of the people who stay here.”