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| Quality |
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What do you have to build on? Are the foundations, walls and roof in good condition. If any of these have to be rebuilt it may be more economical to build an entirely new house! Is there sanitation and electricity? It can be very costly to have either put in from scratch. These questions can be answered with a survey carried out by a qualified Italian architect "Architetto" or Geometra - a kind of Surveyor. (If possible, use an architect as they are better qualified and should give a more accurate survey.) |
 Right: A ruin "rovina" - subsidence has caused this building to colapse. It gives an opportunity to see how these buildings were constructed. On display, the main beams "trave" and the walls built from a mix of brick and stone. A building such as this one would take a considerable amount of time to rebuild. |
| Building Permits |
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The external aspects of any Italian building of considerable age require a permit in order to be modified. The restrictions vary considerably from area to area, towns and built up areas tend to be far more restrictive than areas of open land. In general you can't change window sizes, the volume of a protected building has to remain the same and your choice of external wall colours are limited. In a few areas swimming pools are no longer allowed. It is very important to check that a building permit or Concessione Edilizia can be granted before parting with your money. |
| Foreign builders |
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Some buyers like to use builders from their own country. This is not necessary, besides costing more the bureaucracy of Italy can be even more bureaucratic towards lone foreign companies working in Italy who are not as familiar with Italian building regulations. Any of the necessary expertise can be matched by qualified Italian builders who could be best categorised as craftsmen. They often carry a wealth of experience handed down by generations working in the same trade and are well versed in the workings of Italian rustico and the necessary materials to complete a very durable and authentic renovation. They also follow strict Italian building regulations that would match those of any other country. |
| Architects |
| In my experience Italian Architects are extremely well versed in regulations and construction techniques. Architecture is a very popular choice of degree amongst Italian University students and competition for university places is high. As such, the requirements to become an architect mean only the brightest graduate in architecture. My only criticism is that they have a tendency to design with their own specifications in mind and not those of the client, although, you may forgive them as it is often their own enthusiasm that is to blame. |
| If you have a good supervision service any misunderstandings with regards the design and development of your home can be averted. |
| • Page 1 - Rustico - Time - Cost | |
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• Page 2 - Quality - Building Permits - Foreign Builders - Architects |