MS Villa
The residence is a quintessential 1960s Caprese villa, characterized by its immaculate white facades and soft, rounded architectural lines. The design intervention seamlessly harmonizes these elements, infusing the space with enhanced character and a deep connection to its location.
Enriched by arched windows, vaulted truss ceilings, and openings far grander than the originals, the villa stands as a masterclass in local architecture, meticulously preserved and historically honored. Its terraces, crafted from handmade, sun-dried terracotta tiles, beautifully demonstrate a restoration philosophy where every single architectural element retains its authentic, local soul.
Every piece of furniture has been curated with artistic precision: handmade bronze wall sconces by Jules Wabbes, sofas and armchairs by Pierre Paulin, and a canary-yellow coffee table. A cognac leather lounge chair and a 19th-century chaise longue upholstered in a rich floral textile frame the main archway, which opens the living room toward the garden and the sea.
architecture
interior
- TIMELINE: 2020-2023
- STATUS: Completed
- LOCATION: Capri, Italy
- CATEGORY: Residential | Renovation | Landscape
- SIZE: 3,620 m2 + 230 m2
- CLIENT: Private
- PHOTOGRAPHY: Helenio Barbettta
PERCHED HIGH ON A DRAMATIC PROMONTORY OVERLOOKING THE SEA ON THE BEAUTIFUL ISLAND OF CAPRI, THE ESTATE IS SURROUNDED BY A MONUMENTAL LANDSCAPE DESIGN. THE GARDENS ARE THOUGHTFULLY MAPPED TO OFFER A JOURNEY OF DISTINCT, IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES.
The central terrace, paved in handmade cotto bricks, is dotted with Mediterranean plants and organic, sculptural benches that define distinct areas for open-air breakfast, lunch, or dinner. These tiered terraces offer ever-changing experiences, utilized by the owners at different hours of the day.
THE LIVING ROOM FLOWS EFFORTLESSLY FROM THE ENTRANCE, WHERE THE ULTRAMARINE BLUE FLOORING EXTENDS LIKE AN INFINITE SEA, REFLECTING BOTH THE INTERIOR LIGHT AND THE ACTUAL MEDITERRANEAN WATERS VISIBLE THROUGH THE GLASS. THIS DOUBLE-HEIGHT SPACE IS FRAMED BY SWEEPING BARREL VAULTS. TO THE RIGHT, A SCULPTURAL FIREPLACE FOLDS IN UPON ITSELF LIKE A DELICATE SHEET OF PAPER; ITS FLUE IS ENTIRELY CONCEALED WITHIN THE WALL, CREATING AN IMPOSSIBLE, ALMOST MAGICAL SENSE OF WEIGHTLESSNESS.
The journey into the villa begins on the upper level, where a brilliant, highly reflective custom floor in deep ultramarine blue mirrors the surrounding walls, ceiling, and ambient colors. While the space is enveloped in an immaculate, pristine white, intentional splashes of color break the minimalism: a single drawer tucked inside a clean, square niche in mandarin orange welcomes guests with a touch of whimsical extravagance. The orange resin light fixtures are softly translucent, casting a warm, amber glow that wraps around the entire interior, echoing the sunset framed by the expansive window ahead. Every piece of furniture is entirely custom-designed, right down to the hardware; the cabinet handles feature a crossed-sphere mechanism reminiscent of a vintage 1960s handbag clasp. Each object feels like a nostalgic fragment, evoking the golden era of the Italian Dolce Vita.
Opening onto the herb garden, the first guest annex is carved directly into the mountainside like a subterranean grotto. Clad in local stone, it opens onto a sun-kissed terrace featuring an integrated curved stone bench. This structure also cleverly houses a technical zone, storage, and laundry facilities. Emerging seamlessly from the cliffside, it blends into a singular, unified element with the stone staircases and the natural rock face.
The main terrace opens directly into the kitchen, which transcends its functional purpose to become an expansive living space. The floor itself is a masterpiece: the tiles, featuring a 1960s pattern in pale yellow and rich egg-yolk tones, are the iconic designs of Gio Ponti. The true character of the house begins here, celebrating motifs deeply rooted in local craftsmanship.
THE DESIGN INTENT WAS TO EXPRESS THIS HERITAGE FULLY ACROSS EVERY ROOM. THE MASONRY KITCHEN FEATURES DARK OAK DOORS THAT ECHO THE ORIGINAL TIMBER TONES OF THE STAIRCASE PANELING. A PORTHOLE WINDOW, A HIGHLY FASHIONABLE ARCHITECTURAL MOTIF OF THE ERA, HAS BEEN LOVINGLY PRESERVED, SERVING AS A FOCAL POINT WITHIN A THREE-DIMENSIONAL NICHE CARVED BENEATH THE STAIRS.
A glass-top dining table supported by lacquered cream legs was custom-designed by Labscape, paired with a bench that curves gracefully as it enters the architectural alcove. Classic Superleggera chairs by Gio Ponti complete the arrangement. In the cooking zone, an open arch reveals a canvas of tiles ranging from pure white to soft cream, arranged like delicate leaves to create an almost botanical backdrop.
The bedrooms share a poetic common denominator: the flooring, the patterns, the colors, and the local craftsmanship of Caprese geometric and floral motifs. Labscape conducted meticulous archival research to recover lost historic tile patterns, redesigning and reproducing them so that every single room and bathroom possesses its own unique identity. It is an exercise in pure craftsmanship, mapping the history of local artisans within a single home.
The master bedroom features a bold, high-contrast 1960s pattern of rounded shapes in orange and black, anchoring the room with a powerful character. The bespoke bed features a custom-carved bronze headboard shaped like delicate leaves. A desk and wardrobes are seamlessly integrated, leading into a walk-in closet designed like a tunnel of dark oak—the same rich timber used for all doors throughout the villa—complete with custom-designed hardware by Labscape.
PERCHED HIGH ON A DRAMATIC PROMONTORY OVERLOOKING THE SEA ON THE BEAUTIFUL ISLAND OF CAPRI, THE ESTATE IS SURROUNDED BY A MONUMENTAL LANDSCAPE DESIGN. THE GARDENS ARE THOUGHTFULLY MAPPED TO OFFER A JOURNEY OF DISTINCT, IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES.
The outdoor kitchen is a celebration of Mediterranean life, adorned with bespoke mosaics by Sicis. Equipped with a traditional pizza oven, a generous travertine sink, and a professional cooking station, it centers around a massive island block where everyone naturally gathers. It acts as the vibrant heartbeat of the villa’s summer lifestyle.
The second guest annex is envisioned as a private sanctuary. The interior has been entirely reconfigured to accommodate a bedroom, a bathroom, and a dressing area. Distributed across two intimate levels with a private front terrace, it is fully enveloped by the Mediterranean pine forest. Its candid, chalk-white finish—so symbolic of the island—is celebrated through curved silhouettes, a domed roof, and classic Caprese arches.
PATTERN, TEXTURE, AND RHYTHM DEFINE THE SPACES.
The bathrooms serve as intimate galleries showcasing the design history of Capri. Distinct patterns were reproduced for each room by master artisans from the region, ensuring every space evokes a different emotion. The color palettes harmonize beautifully with their adjacent bedrooms—ranging from maritime blues to soft powdery pinks, or striking balances of vibrant orange and deep black. While the expressive floor patterns transition seamlessly into these wellness spaces, the bathroom walls are enriched with increasingly surprising graphic details. The vanities are entirely custom-made with soft, rounded silhouettes in cream tones, crowned by solid travertine countertops and completed with bespoke mirrors and lighting fixtures.
