ZASH COUNTRY BOUTIQUE HOTEL
LOCATION
Riposto, Sicily, Italy
ARCHITECTURE
Contemporary renovation of a historic rural estate
YEAR
2012
STYLE
Contemporary Sicilian architecture
Set within a landscape of citrus groves on the eastern coast of Sicily, Zash Country Boutique Hotel occupies a historic rural estate near Mount Etna. The project transforms an agricultural property into a contemporary retreat, bringing together the character of traditional Sicilian architecture and a more restrained, modern approach to design.
The existing buildings provide the foundation for the hotel’s architectural identity. Their simple forms, masonry surfaces and rural proportions evoke the region’s agricultural heritage, while contemporary interventions introduce a new spatial language. The renovation retains the atmosphere of the estate rather than replacing it with a uniform, newly constructed environment.
The relationship between architecture and landscape is central to the experience. The hotel is surrounded by citrus trees and cultivated grounds, with outdoor spaces offering views across the estate and towards the wider Sicilian landscape. Courtyards, terraces and garden paths create a gradual transition between the buildings and their natural setting.
Inside, the design balances the textures of the historic structures with a minimal contemporary palette. Stone, plaster and timber provide a tactile foundation, while clean-lined furnishings and carefully controlled lighting create a calm atmosphere. The contrast between the old fabric and the modern interiors gives the spaces their distinctive character.
The estate’s rural origins remain present throughout the guest experience. Rather than treating the landscape as a backdrop, the hotel makes it an essential part of its architecture — shaping views, movement and the rhythm of daily life.
Zash offers a contemporary interpretation of Sicilian hospitality, where the identity of a historic rural property is preserved through a sensitive transformation. Its appeal lies in the balance between the existing architecture, modern comfort and the distinctive landscape of eastern Sicily.
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
Zash Country Boutique Hotel illustrates how a historic rural estate can be adapted for contemporary hospitality while retaining its agricultural character. The project brings new life to the existing buildings through a restrained design approach, allowing material textures, spatial simplicity and the surrounding citrus landscape to remain central. Its architecture is defined by continuity rather than contrast — a contemporary retreat shaped by the place it inhabits.
