A Bungalow that Feels Like Home: The Significance of Architecture in Moneglia
- Lexi Vander
- May 28, 2023
- 4 min read
Silence. Silence which shakes leaves on the mountainside, and silence which speaks through the sounds of gentle waves lapping against the shore.
Silence ebbs and flows in all things, and thus, can be found in the most obsolete places. Though finding silence amongst nature, on a coast in Moneglia is the kind of silence that makes sense. It’s the silence that most people search for, and the level of peace that everyone dreams of.
Off the grid.
A sanctuary from city life, this small town embraces the beauty of nature.
Locals acknowledge Il Rospo as "The Campsite."
Moneglia is off the grid, by all meanings of the phrase. Asking for Wi-Fi is virtually making a joke, and getting service would be a miracle.
This is likely why the locals all hand out a map. A real, paper map. Unaccustomed to these though, some may choose to venture onward with a spotty, and inept Google Maps in hand.
Those who choose not to follow the provided paper map, will embark on an unwillingly treacherous journey. Climbing to the top of the winded mountain roads, overnight bags still in hand.
Only to discover that the Il Rospo's bungalows were in fact a 10 minute stroll down the beach, rather than a 2 hour trek through terrain.
Upon approaching the bungalow, there's an unassuming look to it. Once the cliffside reveals itself though, there is sudden clarity.
True beauty is found in simplicity.
Humble homes are a necessity. Coastal homes prioritize the comfort, and the efficiency that is needed in a proper living space. These places meet the bare minimum standards visually, as anything else might take away from such a beautiful natural landscape. A comfortable, understated home. Inside the bungalow.
Many Italian cities are centered around the buildings that made them famous. They have grown in relevance to their most iconic structures. The Leaning Tower of Pisa, The Duomo, and The Colosseum are all monumentally renowned, and command respect from visitors.
These architectural structures are treated as art, but are rarely acknowledged for their walls or their roofs. Often times, people forget to acknowledge a house as a piece of architecture. These underrated buildings are what truly keep Italy together.
The most Impressive buildings in Italy are not these iconic ones, rather the buildings that were made to fit the landscape around them. Upon looking at Cinque Terre, it's clear that this technique was applied. The way that the colorful houses were built into the mountainside, exhibits this architectural technique.
This same look is used throughout Moneglia, though understated. There are less buildings, and less colors than Cinque Terre features. However, this draws more attention to the actual landscape. There is less visual noise taking away from the nature.
Somewhere in Northern Italy, a coastal village named Moneglia exemplifies the beauty that is found in land, that is found in simplicity, and that is found in silence.
Water spends its time paring off slivers of Moneglia’s beaches, as mountains watch from above. Within this landscape, houses lay wedged in between.
For humanity, these are the places that matter. Homes.
Clinging to the mountainside, overlooking the water resides a bungalow.
This bungalow has hot water, as well as a waterfront view
Moneglia doesn't have any kind of iconic landmark. Rather, they are recognized for their water, fish, and beaches. Moneglia is home to many Italians year-round and seasonally.
A place that a person travels to so they can experience their life, not to see once in their life. A place that knows mundane feeling, yet knows the cheerful low hum of families gathering on the beach below. A place where floorboards are walked, and creaks become quickly familiar.
A home, or at least a bungalow that feels like one.
A place that feels like home.
A German traveler, Martin Romer shares that he has visited Moneglia every year for 20 years. He has found that the architecture in the village “is simple, nice, and effective.”
All in all, these are the features of a house that matter the most.
Yet, he makes note that there is a draw to the homes, because “it’s a feeling.”
The kindness of the locals, as well as the peaceful scenery and the ocean certainly have a large impact on this "feeling" Martin refers to.
Specifically, waking up to the ocean views... this is a feeling. The water holds so much history and value to the locals who live here. Even for visitors, The Mediterranean Sea has a powerful effect.
Moneglia was born as a fishing village. They have continued carrying out many of their traditions. Thus, the water to the locals is life.
Lorenzo De Fransesco, who works at Il Rospo reveals that "a home in front of the ocean is awesome because you can feel everything, because you can feel the song of nature, and make contact with nature.”
Lorenzo revealed that the feeling in the bungalow is because it’s along the water, "because you know the water is life, and you know that the water protects you.”
Lorenzo stressed the importance of caring for this water, as it cares for all of the people. He addresses the water as a powerful force, as a source of life, and as a friend.
Even with such an attachment to his home, Lorenso also believes that "every place is unique, you need only to stay focused. and try to relax yourself or feel in every place the different call or song from the nature. In this place it's easy, but it's in every place."
Monteglia is an easy place to experience such nature, and an excellent place to meet locals and look at beautiful houses perched on cliffsides.
The architecture of a town should be cohesive, and should reflect the place that it is. The perfect bungalow that felt like home couldn't have done Monteglia better justice.
A bungalow in comforting silence, and a village with comforting people. The land has such an impact on these people, as the people do for the land. Monteglians are aware of this impact and take it seriously. They let the land guide their architecture, and they make sure they are near the water as they do such.
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