A 1970s monument to modern architecture is sailing through the test of time in the picturesque hills of Italy’s Chianti region.
The long, two-story villa, with strong horizontal lines and a flat roof, is stepped into the countryside terrain of Strada in Chianti, about a 30-minute drive from the Tuscany capital city of Florence.
Florentine architect Roberto Monsani designed the villa to follow the contour of the site.
Building Heritage
Commissioned by Hungarian-American businessman Alexander Brody in 1972 for use as a vacation home, the sculptural residence is the work of Florentine architect Roberto Monsani. The clean-lined design was a successful departure from traditionalism and the classic style of Florentine architecture.
Villa Brody was “praised and featured as a masterpiece of its time,” says Cinzia Romanelli, chief executive officer and founder of Building Heritage. French and Italian magazines called it rèsolument contemporaine (resolutely contemporary).
The roof overhang provides partial shade for the upper patio.
Building Heritage
Monsani himself would later take ownership of the villa, where he lived until his death in 2018. Now, the prestigious residence is being offered for sale at €1.6 million or about USD 1.7 million.
Encompassing 7 hectares―about 17 acres―the gated property includes an expansive lawn, woodland, olive groves and 1,200-square-meter―nearly 13,000-square-foot―lake. Long partitions broken up by walls of windows emphasize the strong geometric shapes of the reinforced concrete structure.
The clean-lined interior of the living room lends itself to low, modular furniture.
Building Heritage
The 300 square meters―about 3,200 square feet―of interiors contrast black and white. Furniture and accessories bring in bursts of color. Monsani was also known for his design of modular furniture and wall units, both of which look at home in the space today.
The upper floor contains the entrance, dining room and modernized kitchen. The floor below houses the living room, a study set behind a fireplace wall and three bedrooms with private bathrooms. Sliding glass doors in many of the rooms open to the outdoors.
Glass doors in many of the rooms open to courtyard or patio space.
Building Heritage
A staircase connecting the two levels overlooks a cement-block paved courtyard. Terraces take in panoramic views of the surrounding rolling hills.
Kety Ciko, also with Building Heritage, is the listing agent.
Walls of windows take in views of the countryside.
Building Heritage
With its medieval architecture, piazzas and cobblestone streets, the Tuscan village of Strada in Chianti is a popular base for wine enthusiasts wanting to sample the area’s signature Chianti Classico. (Connoisseur tip: The symbol of a black rooster indicates that the grapes used were grown in the Chianti Classico region.)