Spatial choreography

In this project we find ourselves in Naples, a unique city whose extraordinary historical and cultural heritage encompasses all the moods and colours of the theatre of life. The elegant Chiaia neighbourhood is one of the city’s most elegant districts, particularly the exclusive pedestrian precinct that stands at the vibrant heart of the city’s nightlife and leads from Via Calabritto through Piazza dei Martiri to the Riviera. Via Orazio, one of the roads winding down from Posillipo to the Mergellina seafront, offers a magnificent view of the city. Here, at Interno NM 18, we find an apartment that was created from a 140 square metre portion of the first floor of a residential building constructed during the building boom of the 1960s and 1970s. The owner, a well-known young professional, wanted « a quiet place for relaxing, meeting up with friends and cultivating my interests », a request that was fulfilled by architect Nicola Liguori, who completed the remodelling project in just over ten months. « My role was to find a harmonious balance between the interior design and the personal tastes of the client, » he said. The living area occupies the largest and most panoramic section of the building, a large open space divided up according to the traditional functions of socialisation, dining and cooking. The large windows offer a view that is unrivalled anywhere in the world, with Mount Vesuvius in the distance and Castel dell’Ovo stretching out into the sea, its colours gradually changing with the passing hours. One of the most interesting aspects of the project is the recurring architectural motif of sliding walls, mostly custom-made elements reminiscent of theatre curtains with different finishes and heights. Their function is to change the layout of the space by screening the entrance or creating a private study area, while the mirror-finished doors and glossy surface coverings supplied by Florim appear to welcome the surrounding landscape into the home. The two-sided fireplace, made of ceramic slabs from Rex’s Prexious collection in the sophisticated Thunder Night colour, complemented by wooden shelving, proved an effective solution for concealing the pillars and utilities. The dining area, located between the two panoramic balconies clad with the same marble-effect slabs for aesthetic continuity, connects the relaxation area with the kitchen, which in turn occupies the entire rear wall. Also commissioned to design the furnishings, Nicola Liguori chose a few select items made by leading Italian brands such as Kartell, Pianca, Porro, Flos and Valcucine and combined them harmoniously with the existing elements. A sliding wall made from multifaceted, two-tone wood leads on one side to the guest bathroom and on the other to the sleeping area. While one bedroom is kept intentionally simple to adapt to the needs of guests, the master bedroom overlooking the garden is more ornate, featuring a wall decoration, wooden bookcases and once again a system of panels leading on one side to the walk-in wardrobe and on the other to the bathroom clad in Etoile ceramic tiles inspired by the extraordinary green-blue tones of amazonite.