Would you live in a cabin in the woods?
As traffic gets heavier, real estate price gets higher, and urban centers become more hectic, it’s just so tempting to pack your bags and live in the woods.
So when Luca Ventrella chanced upon a stone hut, he didn’t think twice. What was once a ruin turned into a cozy mountain retreat with amazing views and unparalleled intimacy with nature.
Ventrella once lived in the city.
He has always been fond of nature and would go on trips to the outdoors. In one of his hikes through the North Italian Alps, he came across a rundown stone cabin.
He shared with Kirsten Dirksen that abandoned mountain houses were not at all unusual. Rural populations, especially those in remote places like mountains, shrink every year.
Younger people from the mountains move closer to town or city centers for better employment. As a result, a lot of mountain settlements get abandoned.
He bought a stone cabin for 8,000 euros.
Fortunately, it was in better shape compared to the others he encountered. The roofing system is largely intact, which means he could already move in while working on the rest of the house.
It was not easy. He needed to install a solar cell system for power and had to construct a water system that can connect his home to the nearby stream.
Since all materials need to be brought up through the mountain path, Ventrella was forced to keep it minimal and practical.
The first place he fixed was the cabin’s “attic.”
He made stairs from scratch and by hand to make the room accessible. He also installed some simple LED lights and filled the place with three big beds for guests.
Right downstairs, he arranged what used to be a stable into a living area. He has a small dining area and a kitchen that was still working on. On the far side of the room, he also has a long construction table for various projects.
He also has a wooden stove for his heating system.
All of his furniture is handmade and uses pegs instead of nails. Through his projects, he learned to appreciate hand tools even if they were much more difficult to use.
He says that finishing a project with these tools is very satisfying. Most of all, hand tools are always reliable as they don’t need anything else but elbow grease.
He even has other modern conveniences.
He has a shower box and a bathtub with heated water, thanks to copper coils and his outdoor fire pit. And while he lives in the Alps, Ventrella said that he wasn’t as isolated.
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He also shared that living a rustic life made him get in touch with our ancient instincts that technology made us forget.
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“Time changes here completely,” he said.
“I adapt to the rhythms of nature. I go to sleep earlier. I wake up earlier. The day can be very short when I work or expand when I also relax because the distractions are few.”
Watch how a nature lover turned an abandoned stone house into a cozy rustic home.
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