CONTEMPORARY NAPLES: A CULTURAL REFUGE
NAPLES, ITALY
Overlooking a lively square in the heart of the seafront neighbourhood of Chiaia, a first floor space in a historic building has been transformed into the Neapolitan retreat of a young professional raised in the city. Well-travelled and often out of town, he hopes this modern pied-à-terre will allow him to maintain a tangible connection to his hometown, and his vision for the project was clear: to curate a space that reflects the Naples he knows and loves. Not only the historic city, steeped in tradition, but also the contemporary, vibrant and dynamic Naples. This fusion of tradition and modernity sits at the core of the project, with architect Giuliano dell’Uva imagining and realising the space with a focus on versatility and openness.
Hailing from a family of collectors, and raised among the works of great masters, the owner’s home has emerged as a vessel for art and culture, conceived as a private gallery, with a fluid and open layout that seamlessly integrates every artwork, design object and furniture piece into its surroundings. The kitchen — an Arclinea Italia model with a central island in dual-finish stainless steel — offers a sculptural element to the property’s architecture, cementing within it a strong sense of visual identity.
The kitchen serves as a point of dialogue between the apartment’s diverse influences; immaculate white walls, gleaming steel and art that fills every corner.
Harnessing an aesthetic sensitivity that embodies today’s cosmopolitan Naples, the kitchen is the focal point of the apartment, where culinary preparations merge with the pleasures of hospitality and conviviality. The pantry area, concealed behind integrated stainless steel doors, exemplifies a design approach that transcends pure functionality to create a unique and inspiring space. This ensures an uninterrupted visual flow, highlighting an Alfredo Jaar neon artwork dedicated to the city, which appears as the centerpiece of the room and a defining feature of the home’s artistic and cultural vision.
From the architecture and materials, to the spatial layout and curated art, every aspect of this project celebrates the city of Naples, forging a vibrant and enduring connection to what defines it.
