A place of the soul par excellence; an infinite and indefinite vital presence, surprisingly multiform, intimately familiar yet eternally extraneous, where one can lose and find oneself every day. It is a silent and passionate tribute to the enchantment of the sea at sunset – with its infinite suggestions of unexpected shades, of light and glow, of vivid, intense colours that suddenly turn into a soft, delicate radiance – the design intervention by Neapolitan architect Valentina Autiero in the restyling of the six rooms with breathtaking views that make up Laqua by the Sea, Cinzia and Antonino Cannavacciuolo’s guest house overlooking the sea in Meta, in the heart of the Sorrento Peninsula.
Part of the Laqua Collection, Laqua by the Sea welcomes its guests with five sumptuous Deluxe rooms and one Classic. Every corner of this splendid property reflects an atmosphere of luxury and tranquillity, in which the panoramic terraces and infinity pool blend harmoniously with the surrounding seascape. Here, every detail is taken care of with love and attention to create an unparalleled experience of relaxation and well-being. Every moment spent at Laqua by the Sea is an invitation to celebrate the magical encounter between man and the sea, immersing oneself completely in the beauty and serenity of the surrounding environment.
Valentina Autiero – the founder and driving force behind the architecture and interiors studio of the same name, already part of the project team of Laqua Countryside in the hilly hinterland of Sorrento – cloaks the resort’s rooms with a new identity with a vibrant soul and a magnetic personality. The heart and core of the project is the presence of scenographic elements with a curvilinear character, revealing an innate sculptural nature and an undisputed scenic appeal, as an inspired tribute to the dynamic and unpredictable transformation of the waves of the sea at sunset.
From the very first glance, the planimetric conformation of each room appears to lean clearly towards the marine element below thanks to the imposing presence of a full-height glass wall: this spatial component breaks through the frontal perspective and suggests in an immediate way the direct and constant dialogue with the sea, to all intents and purposes a grand and evocative presence of the context and surrounding landscape. The architect’s new design of the rooms is thus developed in full awareness of the iridescent dynamism of the perception of the environments and atmospheres, which range according to a palette of colours in eternal evolution, starting from the algid blue shades of dawn to the fiery reds of sunset.
The marine element – an infinite and indefinite living presence, multiform and transformist, at once intimately familiar and irremediably foreign – has always been a vital, necessary and indispensable source of inspiration for Valentina Autiero. Thus, in the architectonic work of the designer, perspective lines, objects, materials and surfaces, lights and shadows, solids and voids play multiform roles, often unexpected and unpredictable, and every day they compose the harmonic plot of the domestic mise-en-scène: no longer mere backdrops, but presences that capture and reflect fragments of life, to recompose them and return them according to ever new and surprising trajectories.
In the context of the rooms of Laqua by the Sea reinterpreted by the architect, a series of monolithic sculptures in Persian red travertine reveal themselves to be the undisputed and undisputed protagonists of the design intervention as a whole. These fascinating and magnetic presences, declined in different ways according to a common curvilinear trend, create preferential perspective views and spectacular scenic backdrops in correspondence with the spaces expressly dedicated to the water element and to self-care – shower corner, outdoor bathtub corner with hydromassage and washbasin corner – in a veritable ode to time rediscovered. The clear prominence of these areas in the restyling project also underlines once again the strong propensity for wellness that has always animated Laqua by the Sea and more generally all the resorts in the Laqua Collection.
In an open formal dialogue with the red travertine and its sinuous nature, a tone-on-tone upholstered fabric boiserie with a once again curved design enhances and highlights an additional sub-space dedicated to comfort and relaxation. Flexuously modelled – once again a declared homage to the sea waves and their changing ripples in contact with the sunset breeze – it extends in sculptural mode along the wall, where it defines and welcomes the bed area. The bed area, located at the furthest point of the room and highlighted by a dedicated ceiling lighting system, thus becomes a true privileged observatory.
These fascinating and magnetic presences, declined in different ways according to a common curvilinear trend, create preferential perspective views and spectacular scenic backdrops in correspondence with the spaces expressly dedicated to the water element and to self-care – shower corner, outdoor whirlpool bath corner and washbasin corner – in a true ode to time rediscovered. The clear prominence of these areas in the restyling project also underlines once again the strong propensity for wellness that has always animated Laqua by the Sea and more generally all the resorts in the Laqua Collection.
In an open formal dialogue with the red travertine and its sinuous nature, a tone-on-tone upholstered fabric boiserie with a once again curved design enhances and highlights an additional sub-space dedicated to comfort and relaxation. Flexuously modelled – once again a declared homage to sea waves and their changing ripples in contact with the sunset breeze – it extends in sculptural mode along the wall, where it defines and welcomes the bed area. The latter, located at the furthest point of the room and highlighted by a dedicated ceiling lighting system, thus becomes a true privileged observatory from which to fully enjoy the beauty that pervades the surrounding landscape.
In open contrast with the curvilinear elements that characterise the rooms, the wall in front of the bed area reveals the presence of a metal structure with a strong personality – distinguished by its geometric trait and irregular course – which houses a further sub-space dedicated to relaxation with armchairs and a small wooden table, ideal for devoting oneself to favourite reading as well as to the pastimes of the heart or, more simply, to contemplating the breathtaking panorama that pervades the room. This structure proves to be the perfect backdrop for a sentimental tribute to the traditions of the region: it thus houses a selection of works of high Campania craftsmanship, including some clay sculptures very dear to the Cannavacciolo family, created by Antonino’s father.
After graduating in architecture from the Federico II University in Naples, Valentina Autiero founded the architecture, interiors and design studio named after her in the heart of the Sorrento Peninsula. The studio deals with architectural and interior design, product design, art direction and strategic consulting. Over the years it has realised accommodation facilities and boutique hotels, commercial spaces, shops, lounge bars and cafés, villas and private residences, exhibitions and installations. His interest in design planning is also strong, in which he experiments with new dialogues between materials and forms, with a distinctive vision towards sustainability paths.
With the restyling of Laqua by the Sea, Valentina Autiero continues her collaboration with the Cannavacciuolo family, which has already been realised in the context of the Laqua Countryside project team.
CREDITS
Project: Laqua by the Sea
Design: Valentina Autiero
Location: Meta, Sorrento
Year: 2024
Photographer: Carlo Oriente
