The practice oversees the project from the initial site visit through to the completion of the works. We design in Noto and the Val di Noto, where landscape restrictions and the historic fabric of the area are not obstacles to be circumvented: they are the very material with which we work.
Building here is not like building elsewhere. The historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the surrounding countryside is almost entirely subject to landscape protection, and every development project must be approved by the local council, the Syracuse Heritage Authority, or both. Knowing in advance which route an application will take is half the battle.
Anyone looking for an architect in Noto almost always comes with just one question: is it possible? The answer begins with a site visit and an analysis of the planning regulations, not with a drawing. We handle new builds, renovations and the restoration of rural ruins, from the feasibility study right through to the completion of the project.
✴︎ First
Project
Site survey, feasibility assessment and advice on local regulations. Architectural design and modelling using BIM, ensuring that drawings, quantities and cost estimates remain consistent right through to completion.
✴︎ During
Authorisations
CILA, SCIA, planning permission, landscape authorisation. Direct liaison with the local council, the Superintendency and the Civil Engineering Department. Access to PNRR calls for proposals and public funding where the project meets the eligibility criteria.
✴︎ Then
Construction site
Site supervision, accounting and liaising with the contractor until the project is completed. Where the site allows, this can also be done remotely: those who live far away need not miss out on oversight. On request, artistic direction too: finishing choices on site and the project’s visual identity.
Where we work
The practice is based in Noto and operates in the Val di Noto and the province of Syracuse.
Avola, Rosolini, Pachino, Syracuse and the surrounding municipalities: this is an area with its own set of rules — landscape plans, ‘Zone A’ historic centres, agricultural areas with strict building density limits — and knowing them inside out saves more time than any shortcut.
On a building site, proximity counts twice as much: you manage the works by being there, not by reading reports. The villas and restored properties that have already been built feature amongst the projects, from the farmstead with its courtyard at Casa Controra to the contemporary villa at Casamatta.
3D visualisation
Every project is presented in photorealistic images before construction begins.
A rendering isn’t just for decorative purposes: it’s a verification tool. It helps you choose a type of stone, the dimensions of an opening or the shade of plaster when changing your mind still costs nothing.
The views are calculated using the actual lighting conditions at the site — orientation, season, time of day — because here, light is half the design. We produce exterior and interior views, views of the building set within the landscape, and sequences showing how one moves through the spaces.
These plans serve two purposes: for the client, to make decisions based on what they see rather than what they imagine; and for the relevant authorities, where a precisely rendered landscape integration shortens the planning process.
Frequently asked questions
CILA, SCIA or planning permission: which one do you need? Open
It depends on what is being altered, not on what the work is called. Generally speaking: the CILA covers extraordinary maintenance that does not involve structural elements; the SCIA is required when structural elements or façades are altered, and for restoration and conservation work; a planning permission applies to new builds, extensions increasing the building’s volume, and renovations that alter the building’s outline, volume or intended use.
The distinction between one category and another is determined on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the existing planning permission and the lawful status of the property. This is the first thing we check during the site visit, because getting it wrong means having to start the application process all over again.
Is a planning permission required? Open
In Noto, the answer is almost always yes. The historic centre and much of the surrounding countryside fall within protected areas: there, any work that alters the external appearance requires landscape authorisation, which in Sicily is issued by the Superintendency for Cultural and Environmental Heritage in Syracuse. For the historic centre, we have set out the restrictions, permits and the order of procedures in ‘Renovating a house in the historic centre of Noto’.
There is a simplified procedure for minor works, and a list of works that are entirely excluded from it. Determining which of the three categories applies — standard, simplified or excluded — can make a difference of several calendar months, and this check must be carried out before the design work begins, not afterwards.
How long does it take? Open
The time limits for these procedures are laid down by law, but they only begin to run once a complete application has been submitted: that is where time is either gained or lost. The CILA takes effect upon filing, and the SCIA from the moment it is submitted; planning permission and landscape authorisation each have their own assessment processes, which are carried out in parallel when both are required.
Two factors that do not appear in any statutory time limit have the greatest impact on the overall duration: the quality of the documentation submitted and how quickly contact was made with the relevant authority.
Is it possible to build in the countryside, around Noto? Open
Construction is permitted in agricultural areas, but subject to building coefficients, minimum plot sizes and distances set out in planning regulations, and almost always subject to landscape restrictions. The feasibility study serves precisely this purpose: to establish in advance what volume of development is possible and under what conditions.
Where there is a rural building, even if it is in ruins, restoration is often a more viable option than building from scratch: it builds on the existing structure. We wrote about this in ‘Restoring a ruin: 110 good reasons’.
Do you work with people who don’t live in Sicily? Open
Yes, and it’s a significant part of the job. Anyone buying a house in the Val di Noto whilst living elsewhere needs two things: to see the design before it exists, and to know that there’s someone on site keeping an eye on things. The first is covered by the renderings; the second by the site supervision, which we also carry out on behalf of those who cannot be there in person.
How is the fee calculated? Open
As regards the cost of the works and the services actually required – design, administrative procedures, site supervision and health and safety – these are itemised separately, and not all projects require all of them. The quotation is drawn up and provided following the site visit, once it is clear exactly what work is involved.
Contact Us
David Roberto Moscuzza, Architect,
Via Montessori 21 — 96017 Noto (SR)
info@dmrarchitettura.it