Houzz Tour: 17th-Century Monastery Is Reborn as a Stylish Retreat
The breathtaking Amalfi Coast is the backdrop for this light-filled Italian getaway featuring ancient ceramic tiles
A 17th-century Italian monastery, which underwent several transformations over the years, has evolved into a spacious villa. This difficult and complex renovation by Lazzarini Pickering Architects took about 18 months and resulted in a vacation residence that’s a mix of past and present. Inside, ancient Vietri ceramic tiles, painstakingly collected, dazzle with their elegance. Outside, the natural beauty of the location, overlooking the crystal-clear waters of Positano, completes the picture.
The passion of the Australian owners, who love this part of the world, gave life to this architectural gem, which has an abundance of decorative detailing and a thoughtful layout. Every element fits the enviable and luminous setting.
The passion of the Australian owners, who love this part of the world, gave life to this architectural gem, which has an abundance of decorative detailing and a thoughtful layout. Every element fits the enviable and luminous setting.
The well-known majolica tile is from Vietri, a small town a few miles from Positano that’s known for its ceramics. The architectural firm wound up collecting thousands of pieces, some very precious, dating from the 1700s to the 1890s. The collection in the home totals about 3,500 tiles, in the traditional size of about 8 by 8 inches (20 by 20 centimeters), picked up from local shops and antiquarians.
The tiles became a fundamental element in the creation of the new space.
The tiles became a fundamental element in the creation of the new space.
The owners’ preferences coupled with the architects’ understanding of the local area gave rise to the idea of using the ceramics in a contemporary way, decontextualizing them completely. So while the tiles are normally used on floors, in this project they play different roles in every part of the house. The traditional majolica becomes innovative — “a contemporary element preserving the historical touch,” Pickering says.
In arranging the many pieces, the hardest part was matching the varying designs and colors to create pleasant compositions. The work was long and hard: It meant physically putting together every piece on-site in a sort of sculptural patchwork.
The result was four architecturally decorative elements that run through the house.
The result was four architecturally decorative elements that run through the house.
The first element is the “ribbon” that begins on the living room ceiling and proceeds down the nearly 20-foot (6-meter) wall to become a coffee table and then flooring before descending the stairs to form a dining table in the kitchen.
From there, the “ribbon” continues its trip, turning up another wall to the ceiling and then back over the table to host the lighting. The whole band of tile flows with no interruptions.
The big and bright living area is also the source of the second element: the iron stairs, whose steps are covered with majolica and whose handrail is completely transparent.
To accentuate the great beauty of the ceramics, the floors throughout the house are covered with a calcareous (chalky) stone from Puglia, in southern Italy. The stone’s predominantly neutral tones and clear, smooth surface perfectly showcase the patterns of the precious ceramics.
To accentuate the great beauty of the ceramics, the floors throughout the house are covered with a calcareous (chalky) stone from Puglia, in southern Italy. The stone’s predominantly neutral tones and clear, smooth surface perfectly showcase the patterns of the precious ceramics.
The third element is the “flying sofa,” as Pickering calls it. This is a kind of cantilevered mezzanine that protrudes about 6½ feet (2 meters) into the living room. It was created to visually lessen the height of the room.
Its location isn’t random, though: From here, it’s possible to enjoy a wonderful view of the magical Li Galli archipelago, just off the coast of Positano. This was once the retreat of Russian dancer Rudolf Nureyev, who fell so in love with the cluster of little islands that he bought it in 1988.
The “flying sofa” and the stairs are both decorative and structural. Their aim is to liven up the space and, above all, to make use of the height of the ceiling, which exceeds 20 feet (6 meters).
Its location isn’t random, though: From here, it’s possible to enjoy a wonderful view of the magical Li Galli archipelago, just off the coast of Positano. This was once the retreat of Russian dancer Rudolf Nureyev, who fell so in love with the cluster of little islands that he bought it in 1988.
The “flying sofa” and the stairs are both decorative and structural. Their aim is to liven up the space and, above all, to make use of the height of the ceiling, which exceeds 20 feet (6 meters).
Picturelike suzani tapestries adorn the walls, their intense colors contrasting with the neutral tones of the walls and floors. They also echo the geometric designs of the tiles, unifying the space.
The fourth architecturally decorative element is in the master bedroom. A large platform ties together the bed and the en suite bathroom, which contains a tub and a sink. This room also features a suzani tapestry.
This home is meant to host children — the couple’s nephews and nieces — who come to Positano for the summer. For this reason, there are four bedrooms, each with a bathroom, on different floors.
Big iron door frames were inserted into the original arches between the living room and main terrace. Each door is about 16½ feet (5 meters) high and can fully open and close.
Outside, the villa has three terraces on different levels and in different styles. The owners grow lemon and other fruit trees on two of them.
On the third terrace, the existing swimming pool was redone and occupies one of the most beautiful spots on the property.
Nearby, an area covered in modern majolica the color of the sea invites relaxation.
The restoration harmoniously balances not only the interior and exterior, but also the past and present, in a true expression of beauty and quality.
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Nearby, an area covered in modern majolica the color of the sea invites relaxation.
The restoration harmoniously balances not only the interior and exterior, but also the past and present, in a true expression of beauty and quality.
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: An Australian couple when vacationing in Italy
Location: Positano, Campania, Italy
Size: About 3,765 square feet (350 square meters), plus about 13,000 square feet (1,200 square meters) of outdoor space consisting of three large terraces and a garden
Designer: Lazzarini Pickering Architects
“Our work always takes strong inspiration from the territory,” says architect Carl Pickering. “From the very beginning, working in Positano required a deep understanding of the architecture of the Amalfi coast. This led us to create something that’s rooted in the surrounding environment; that has a strong connection with the exterior. This is why we chose to carry out some studies on the Vietri ceramics.”