Rebuilds $8K remote ruin by hand alone: best water/solar so far

Luca Ventrella was living in a dense city in Northern Italy when, on one of his weekend hikes in the Alps, he stumbled upon a rundown stone cabin. He bought it for 8,000 euros. Since the roof and walls were intact, he could move in and begin to turn it into a home. The dry stone cabin was originally built as a shepherd’s hut, "baita," where shepherds would spend months at a time here while their flock grazed during the summer months.
Given the home’s distance from the electrical grid, solar power was the only option. Ventrella first put in a simple system and later upgraded to something more powerful with lithium batteries and very potent and reliable inverters. Because power tools are expensive, but mostly because Ventrella likes the feel of hand tools, he built an outdoor shower, toilet, furniture, and stairs out of hand-hewn wood from the surrounding forests. “Hand tools are cheap. They always work. And they are very rewarding to use.”
His water comes from a stream located several hundred meters from the home. The pipeline was installed back when the mountain pasture was used for grazing, and the water was used for the animals. Ventrella has improved on the gravity flow system by installing cisterns that filter and store water for periods of drought.
The home is very rustic and minimal, both an aesthetic choice of Ventrella’s, but also because any building material had to be carried on foot up the mountain path. The isolation that the cabin affords allows Ventrella time to find a new rhythm, one more attuned to the cycles of nature. When not building, he spends his time here beekeeping (a potential income source), mushroom picking, and cooking elaborate meals.
"Time changes here completely. 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."
For full-length videos on Luca Ventrella’s build and life at the cabin: / @lucaventrellaoutdoors
On *faircompanies: faircompanies.com/videos/rebu...

[@vicaroo001]

I just melted into the reality of that guy and his amazing world. Thank you for bringing this to us all. Stunning photography.

[@shaunhall960]

I love this channel! And what a wonderful guy!

[@odys3803]

Check Martjin Doolaard, he's rebuilding a house like this, uploads progress once a week.

[@greybeard5774]

@@odys3803 👍✌

[@nephaisurlo]

@@odys3803 Yeah he has a cool channel! I saw his videos, ib one of them was his neighbor, monk guy. And after I saw video on Kirsten channel about this monk buddy!

[@LitoGeorge]

Fabulous. But the real MVP's are the men who built that baita. Incredible resilience and fortitude.

[@wthomas5697]

Yeah, that's who I'm curious about. I guess they went scrounging for stones and wood in the area.

[@tinathene]

Yes, he honors their work by utilizing it and filling in the cracks…They didn’t live there year round. I wonder if he sells the wax, too. 🕯️

[@cupoft9917]

I Luca follow here on KZbin I'm glad to see him here.

[@frannypeony2076]

So delighted you featured Luca Ventrella!!! I’m full of admiration for him as he has a deep love and respect for nature, and is very good in the kitchen 😋☮️💟

[@espertocasaclima_video]

Luca Ventrella, uno dei miei eroi

[@KathleenMcCormickLCSWMPH]

The simple life requires hard work and discipline. This man personifies it. Looks like he is having fun too. Thanks for this peek into his world.

[@thesmithsfamily1901]

I think the only way people can make this dreamy lifestyle work today, is by having an alternative passive income. Income from KZbin or from an employment that can be achieved remotely. Look at Doolaard, he works from his cabin as a graphic designer and obviously has a very lucrative KZbin channel. Sadly the idea of being 100% self sufficient is a pipe dream. If the old locals couldn’t make it work in todays world, it is very unlikely anyone can. Let’s be serious, todays society ensures we all need a vehicle, fuel, clothes, internet, medicinal care, dentistry, animal food, vehicle maintenance/running costs and other daily commodities. If anyone thinks these guys don’t crash in an Airbnb or use a laundrette when things are extreme and harsh, they are dreaming. That said, these dreamy videos are great at transporting us away from the harsh reality of the sad high tech world we exist in. Ironically without that tech, these videos and projects would not exist!

[@4himsanctified]

Knowing Spanish is always fun to watch your videos in Italian and see how much I understand.

[@fredrossman1189]

I also live in an old house made of logs and rocks in the mountians and well off the highway. I enjoyed this video very much.

[@sheilagarrick]

For all of the practical necessary things revealed in this construction, I appreciate that he made and hung a swing.Simple pleasures. Lovely!

[@davidbecquer3624]

That is an anbosultely incredible place for peaceful retreat into nature, and only for 8k!

[@ricarquitectura4857]

@David Becquer Well, for the property alone. Little by little, it adds up. Still... Opportunities like this are out there; we just have to find them.

[@shaunhall960]

"Hand tools are cheap and they always work". This is so true!

[@40ny]

Very nice video. Beautifully shot, and I liked the fact that you let him talk in Italian at his own pace instead of it being an interview. Sometimes it works best like this, and the pictures spoke for themselves.

[@eridulife]

We started to follow projects like this about stone house restoration over two year ago. We were so inspired by these kind of content that we decided to start our own stone house restoration project. In September 2022 we bought an abandoned land in Spain that has a beautiful stone house “in bad condition” that will be restored later this year. We started to share our journey in the hope to inspire others, as we were inspired. We are very grateful to Kirsten for sharing these kind of projects with us. Thank you

[@maryelizabethcalais9180]

Your videos never cease to amaze Kirsten. How do you find out about these people? How does this man bring up the mountain the supplies and the household things he needs to survive? What does he eat to stay alive while he is building in such a remote area? Please share more of the everyday life necessities these people access to survive and have energy to do all this work!!! I marvel at what patient and calm folks these are!!!!

[@Reciprocity_Soils]

Yes, indeed. I am curious about these details as well. Did he carry up the mountain (9 hours?) the solar panels, the stove, the bathtub, and the mattresses? Wow! Luca's determination, patience, and calm approach to the everyday tasks impresses upon us all the greatness in simple living. Grazie, Luca. Thank you, Kirsten.

[@DNN88]

Hes got this “baita” as a weekend/holiday place. So he isnt full time living there. Check out his youtube channel ‘Luca Ventrella in the outdoors “

[@fa7842]

He surely live in that area not far away, his extreme northern Italian accent gives it away. It was an old Cabin for Shepherd`s and i bet is not allowed to register yourself in that( no address there). And it should have roads for cars not much far away from the cabin. Well, if it is said that he carried everything by hand to his hut, then certainly not from the village or town, but to where the car can go, and not a kilometer away. He buys food in the supermarket, should he hunt or what? He's not in the jungle. He's there when he's free.

[@fa7842]

@@dieselbaby No Problem with a car. It has roads for sure up to a certain point.

[@antoinestsernin6963]

Il y a une piste pour arriver en 4+4 il vient sur place les vacances et weekend

[@rmontena4583]

That's a great power system he has. must have been a lot of work carrying it up there! My romanticism would have me finding a similar place but alas I am too old and arthritic so I live vicariously via your videos. Thank you Kirsten!

[@HabitualButtonPusher]

If you surrounded that wood stove with firebrick that would make it more efficient and provide an awesome thermal mass during winters.

[@ricarquitectura4857]

Isn´t this what life should be? Simple, wholesome, relaxing. The only thing, or rather, things mising are some animals (besides the bees). Thanks again, @Kirsten Dirksen ! You are fantastic!

[@zteaxon7787]

A wife and family is the biggest missing feature. What is it all for? He talks about a lack of people. Make some

[@kyle0091000]

@@zteaxon7787 Not everyone wants to settle down and start a family - and besides, he already said he could barely afford to buy electric tools, you really think he has the budget to have a kid?

[@ricarquitectura4857]

@@zteaxon7787 You are absolutely right. I spoke as that should be the life people should have (whether one person or 2 parents and 5 children). In his case, he gave the impression that he just wanted to live in peace. Regarding companionship, theses days, things are not that simple and straightforward.

[@jasonfarthing6931]

it is sad to see a human so isolated.

[@mimmiblu6138]

@@jasonfarthing6931 he works in the city Monday to Friday and has many videos with his friends, so he's not isolated. A lot of us escape our polluted cities in Northern Italy at the weekend, going either to the mountains or the seaside... even from Milan it is only 1 h to the mountains.

[@DennyLindberg]

I like how you kept the real struggles in the video instead of cutting them out to make everything look perfectly executed.

[@tylerofviolence]

simple and nomadic and get it done. we can all take a note from this mans life style. thank you for taking the time to record and provide this to the world. mother nature is a beautiful thing

[@nativetexson]

I've been following Luca for quite a while. His videos are a relaxing escape from the frantic life in the city. 👏

[@CorbinOak]

That water heating system is genius! 10:29

[@mystisith3984]

Yep. A lot of things can be done firewood in terms of energy needs. You can even produce electricity (for those short gloomy winter days).

[@rolandmd73]

Great video! Lots of similarities with Martijn Doolaard!

[@larsstougaard7097]

Amazing work, glad some still take on these projects 👏

[@josephhuth3714]

Thank you Kirsten. Your videos continue to inspire me and bring me great pleasure.

[@lancedaniels]

Thanks for posting and sharing. Loved seeing how Luca is coping with this living situation. Best of luck to him and thanks for the beautiful video. I did not want it to end.

[@teabagNBG]

love this... im from germany... i was in itally about 15 times... they have beautiful places...

[@firatsoylu5132]

I admire Luca's setup. Thank you Kirsten & Nicolas for this beautifully shot video.

[@forestmichael3518]

Kirsten, thank you for telling these wonderful stories with your family. You all inspire so many to live their dreams.

[@marthareyes4024]

It amazes me how resourceful people can be. I admire him a lot.

[@FrisellFan01]

Outstanding.....the amazing folks you interview and the properties we see are just amazing.....

[@brujocaban]

Wow. By far one of the best ones here on the channel! Amazing experience, our buddy living THE LIFE!

[@miguelveiga188]

What a great living! Kirsten, thank you for all this rich videos, make you reflect what’s most important things on the life.

[@panagiotisstamou6186]

From Australia. I'm so happy for you mate . Living the best life !!!!! .

[@jonathangehman4005]

One of my very favorites, I've watched this a few times already and it's so relaxing while also giving me a much needed late winter boost of enthusiasm for the next steps in my own little world where I live and create

[@rockreader4298]

Absolutely absorbing and relaxing. Thank you, Kirsten Dirksen and family. ( :

[@adrianac3258]

This is beautiful, effective, rustic,cost efective, practical and overall amazing lifestyle to have.This man is living the dream 💛🌳

[@angelgarcia1025]

Your estate is absolutely magnificent. You've done an awesome job and should be proud. Thank you so much for sharing! Happy Holidays 🎄 from Florida, U.S.

[@renatoetzi]

These valleys east and north of Lago Maggiore and Orta are some of the last valleys in northern Italy saved from destruction by commercial development. Centuries of poverty is sadly the best preservative of nature and culture. But with the current depopulation of the area, it is in risk of losing its Walser culture and the influx of outside investments endangers its nature by overexploitation.

[@thecocktailian2091]

you would think with the natural places all but gone in Europe there would be a strict law forbidding any further erosion or encroachment upon the remaining wilderness.

[@rubenskiii]

It's the sad reality: everyone wants to escape from the modern world, because deep inside we all know it's not a human way to live. Not everyone does, but everyone at one point in their live would love nothing more than escape to a cabin in the woods. The want for a "simpler life" is ancient. But for some it goes further than dreams, they have the will and means to turn it into reality. But by fleeing to places still mostly untouched they are touched. Sadly because of video's like this people looking for an escape are gonna flock to these valleys and drive up house and land prices. Because even if only 1% of the viewers actually go for it it's still a big number of people.

[@juancho_IT]

Amazing, I've been following Luca's work for a couple of months on his KZbin channel and this video truly encaptures the style and vibe of it. I'm recently moved in Italy and i want to have a stone cabin in the mountains like this in the upcoming years, the only thing i would add is a nice dog to be with me all the time. Great work Kirsten.

[@familyb5625]

Thank you so much for sharing! Love your videos! Greetings from Holland.

[@leo169]

What a stunning place, love the simplicity and character of the buildings.

[@olvidada100]

Sigo a Luca hace mucho tiempo y adoro sus videos !! Gracias por subirlo !!

[@tonics7121]

Wow. Just wow. Seeing is healing. Thank you for sharing.

[@melissam9326]

Wow Kirsten you have Luca on an episode! I like watching this guy, he is so calm and made such a cozy home. I love also when he does cooking. I literally saw this and clicked on it more out of curiosity to hear him speak English as his channel is usually in Italian. Great episode love to see 2 creative types I enjoy watching come together. I moved to Portugal and am building a tiny house inside four ruin walls, not rebuilt but literally inside it. Your channel has been such inspiration, thanks!

[@miangelsai]

Llevo un par de años siguiendoles , y siempre me sorprenden con los videos , que amo !! Gracias ... Les deseo un 23 cargado de nuevos proyectos . I come following you for a couple of years , and always surprise me with your videos , that I love . Thanks . I wish you a 23 full of new projects !

[@Waywren]

This is just beautiful. Good luck to this man and his bees.

[@pandorasdesign1962]

This video uplifted my soul! Bravo Luca! Thank you Kirsten for bringing us true enjoyment of what life should be...

[@yugeenlighroff430]

No words! 👍👍👍 just incredible. Dream of every conscious person.

[@aardiie]

That moment in the Bath 'Pure Pleasure' 😊Thanks Kirsten

[@tristanlee6538]

BRAVO LUCA, Tutti casa sei perfecto.

[@Winky_Eye]

Watching this made me happy, thank you.

[@scotts1008]

Wow that was simply beautiful! What a wonderful journey 😊

[@wendyhill8924]

Wow! Just loved this video….thanks for sharing your life with us “dreamers of being self sufficient”…totally awesome- impressed with your skills…enjoy , you are blessed….

[@mariumortellaro119]

Yes! Luca is a good guy,I'm peiud of him,he hnows how to do many things,all by himself,thanhs for mentioning him.👍👏👋

[@subyouth1257]

you do such incredible work kirsten, you’re a huge part of the reason i study what i study. hope you understand how many lives you touch with your dedication to authentic, meaningful content.

[@stevebailey7633]

Great find, thx Kristen. I've been a subscriber of Lucca's channel about a year, great to see some backstory. I thought the channel was about hiking in the Dolomites, then he would break out to making these sumptuous dinners. Typical Italian. All about food !

[@dafyddil]

What do you study? Just curious

[@subyouth1257]

@@dafyddil Ecology, OSU also has an Advanced Permaculture Design course I highly recommend if you ever want to build/design sustainable systems like this!

[@davidbentley145]

Bellisima! This video is golden...it's great to see what one with limited means can do on their own...Ty for this dear...

[@mauricepowers3804]

This was so beautiful!!!

[@cesardpd6099]

one of the best histories Ive seen in ur channel ..thx for sharing!

[@Moonboyisflying]

As always, great video. Thank you ❤

[@joanntucker2742]

Your house is beautiful !and the scenery is so pretty !don't know how you do all that. 😊👍☃️☃️

[@pixiew9767]

This was so relaxing to watch. Thank you.

[@statesofinertia]

I've been watching Luca's channel for a year or more and what a beautful soul he is. Thanks Kirsten for this extra insight to his journey. I wonder how far or near Luca's place is to Martijn Doolaard's cabins...

[@mwmingram]

Loved this. Thank you Luca.

[@terryevans5476]

I've followed Luca for a long time. He is my favourite You rubery

[@michelle_ajema]

That swing is one of the best parts of this home. 👌🏾👌🏾😄

[@DSWood358]

So peaceful, beautiful. Love.

[@Concojone5]

There was never any interviewer in the video, just the man, and it emphasized the isolation... made for a stronger documentary (in this case).

[@TheScarletprimrose]

The hand carved table! And the honey oh and the swing!!!

[@emilysnyder4857]

I'm very jealous of the bath with a view. Not sure how heavy the tub was and how far he had to hike but he kinda amazed me there.

[@ronniestanley75]

Cool way of living. Must give a different sense of solitude than what most are used to.

[@anamaria2053]

Beautiful and brilliant. ❤

[@jybuis3939]

You guys are masterful in how you edit these narratives down.

[@marcoterbekke]

That moment he went in the hot bathtub, his response was hilarious! And very imaginable:-)

[@fabiolabarone5798]

Thanks for the video great as always, Merry Christmas to all your family .Che posto incantevolo. 🙏

[@konradklavier8729]

Wow! This house looks so cozy and comfortable. I would live there at once. Wonderful location!

[@beejereeno2]

This was amazing. Full of so many wins.

[@frankbrown9618]

Pollice sù per Luca Ventrella! ... and thumb up also for Kirsten!. Beautifull work, beautifull video. Ciao from Milan.

[@nephaisurlo]

Wow! Thanks a lot! Very inspiring!

[@jgvprasad]

One of your best videos 👍 nice work guys, thanks for sharing this for free 🙏 from India 🇮🇳

[@risasb]

Interesting convergence between some of his adaptations and Martijn Doolaard's. The local environment sets some of the requirements, I think. Respect to them both. We had a filter much like his, in the 70s. It was a perforated galvanized trash can sunk in the spring, with a springhouse built over it. We ran a pipe from there to the house, with a pitcher pump on the sink counter. Watering the garden was a matter of bucketing from the nearby creek, which in those days ran all year.

[@RRaucina]

Doolaard is a hack and a cash grabber. This guy works hard - alone - and has his soul in a better place.

[@6fctwente]

@@RRaucina elaborate please

[@mrofnocnon]

A labour of love, well done.

[@DommaPasce]

I have been following Luca for a long time, he is a great person who loves off grid life, nature, cooking, good wine and long day walks to the various refuges that Italy has on the Alps. He rightly likes to be updated with the best equipment to have a certain comfort to face all this.

[@MerwinARTist]

Loved it! True mountain man!

[@SouthernItalyHomestead]

It's interesting to me how the stone itself determines the architecture that emerges in an area. There in the North the stone is flat, so it lends itself to a certain style of stone wall building and the iconic roofing as well. Down here, it's all limestone (very cubic in shape), which lends itself to a completely different appearance in stonework. I wish there were more resources cataloguing the various regional styles of vernacular stone architecture in Italy. In our area only a few original stone buildings remain, most of them were encased in cement plaster as families expanded their homes after the second world war.

[@MyNeighborsCar]

Bravo Luca

[@Erika-gm2tf]

Amazingly beautiful. I wonder if he knows about coating his water tank in black so algae is less likely to grow.

[@SiSwitzer]

Wow, what an incredible existence😮😍 I’m sure it’s very tough but I can imagine the simplicity of it more than pays off. What a stunning place👌🤩

[@audelaurec]

Amazing, love your videos - thank you!

[@mf5531]

this guy is amazing and his property is fantastic. thank you for a great vid.

[@Oregontrailblazin]

Looks like Martijn Doolaard and the priest's neighborhood ..But I do not know . east from west north south in Italy..Simply lovely

[@DanielSann]

It's just 100km north from Martijn, same region.

[@thesmithsfamily1901]

@@DanielSann Do you know what area it is? Thanks.

[@eliask2023]

​@@thesmithsfamily1901 Piemont, near Turin, I think. And Luca did appear in a couple of Martijn's videos I think, for example when he picked up the water tank you see in this video

[@50guitar]

Incredible views of the mountains

[@tehpaweu]

I'm so inspired. Thank you!

[@TheDonMalta]

If it is very windy there, watch out so the solar panels dosnt take off in the wind as they become a sail almost. So fasten that structure good! Awesome videos amico!!!

[@staceyjenkins8956]

Beautiful love the simplicity of the building and restoration ✌🏽👌🤘

[@evankelley1204]

That stone is so cozy

[@sarashepherd6733]

This so so wonderfully, hard but becoming self sufficient is my idea of life. ♥️💕🙏

[@lunabouch]

Thanks for that escape from my everyday life. Excellent

[@elsaboschetti9750]

Wow that is amazing just the beautiful organic place and the great skills of the builder to recovery the beauty of the stone and make a wonderful place ❤🥰

[@naturewalks]

Beautiful share my friend. Fantastic video and amazing place. Have a wonderful day to you!

[@pedrovitsch]

Really beautiful!