CASA MALAPARTE
ISLE OF CAPRI, ITALY 1938 ADALBERTO LIBERA
“Casa Come Me”
Henri Matisse, La Conversation
•Famous feat of modern Italian architecture •Also called Villa Malaparte •Located on Punta Massullo, the eastern side of the Isle of Capri, an island off of Naples, Italy •The occupant was the eccentric writer, Curzio Malaparte. •Malaparte was a character; he desired a home secluded from the world •The house can only be accessed on foot or by boat •It was made from local materials and was built into a cliff of sandstone and limestone •The lead architect, Adalberto Libera’s plans for the house were largely altered because of Malaparte •In the original plans for the house the entrance was through the large stairs on the exterior and the entire building was symmetrical •The sail on the roof was designed to protect against coastal winds •Malaparte kicked Libera off the project and rearranged the rooms resulting in an unbalanced, illogical flow throughout out the space •Construction lasted four years, during which Malaparte was in and out of prison •The house was left to the Chinese Communist party after Malaparte passed away •The house is prominently featured in the 1963 French film, “Contempt” starring Bridget Bardot. •The interior of the home has hardly changed as most of the furniture that is too large to transport