A sculptural villa lies on the promontory of Abbiadori, overlooking the magnificent Cala Volpe in one of the most beautiful panoramas of Sardinia. This striking work, designed by Fabio Mazzeo, stands out for its visionary character, and for the way it weaves an interplay of continuous references to emphasize the links between the building and its natural setting. This is architecture with a tailor’s precision: here, design takes place on all scales, down to the tiniest detail, to shape a unique style.
Art, design, and craftsmanship interweave in a delicate balance. A harmonious project, under the attentive supervision of Fabio Mazzeo, art director of the company Exclusiva, today part of Fabio Mazzeo Architects. Mazzeo describes:
“Our way of designing and building is deeply rooted in an ideal of Italian beauty that is never static, but rather is translated each time into a unique style that grows out of the customer’s desires. This is a goal we achieve by engaging cross-functional talent and skills. Artists, artisans, decorators, painters and all the creatives and designers of the Fabio Mazzeo team, in a holistic and organic vision of architecture.”
The unifying theme of the design is travertine, which completely covers the villa and continues inside. A palette of fine marble that alternates between Navona travertine, walnut, sandblasted, bush hammered and polished finishes, bringing movement and light to the structure along with full-height windows that capture ever-changing views. The home’s fluid volumes look as though they were sculpted by the wind, following the contours of the land in a fascinating interaction with the natural setting. The 1300-square- meter building unfolds over three levels, in a harmonious symbiosis with the 5000 square meters of terraced garden and the panoramic infinity pool.
Conceived as a dynamic polyhedron, the villa evokes new emotions from every side. The west facade, visible from afar and much more symmetrical and regular than the others, offers the classic and imposing image of a fortress silhouetted against the horizon. Its starkness is softened by the presence of ancient olive trees and the organic development of the architecture. The south facade, almost completely transparent, opens to the view of the Pevero and the facing islands, while the large windows of the east facade act as a light filter between the interior and the garden. To the north, the main entrance immediately catches the eye. The marble molded frame with its asymmetrical embrasure converges towards the portal which, like a textural painting in polished and sandblasted steel, evokes a panorama of sails. From here the interiors unfold, rich in theatrical details like the backdrop that surrounds the home theater room: hand-plastered panels with gold and silver leaf decorations echo the skyline of Cala Volpe, part of the evocation of natural elements that characterizes the home’s interior.
Bleached oak paneling and reflective surfaces give light and charm to the entire second floor, designed as a vast open space where each space flows seamlessly into the next, from the entryway to the living and dining rooms. In the guest area, guests are welcomed and impressed by the wine cellar: an oak-paneled marvel dedicated to wine tasting.
Throughout the villa are many furnishings designed specifically for this project by Fabio Mazzeo’s team and realized by the finest Italian artisan craftsmen. These unique pieces are juxtaposed with jewels of contemporary design such as the Living Divani seats in the living room area. The lighting design creates striking scenes, with sumptuous and delicate chandeliers by Vistosi, jewel chandeliers by Lolli and Memmoli, ultra-modern wall lights by Catellani & Smith and artistic wall sconces by Visionnaire. Each object is chosen with extreme care, from the pair of sinuous metal vases by De Castelli, which create chiaroscuro effects in the lobby, to the elegant and precious Porada mirrors in the night area, where bedside tables, chairs and chests of drawers by Opera Contemporary are paired with beds by Twils, fabrics by Rubelli and armchairs by Fendi Casa. The master bedroom area includes two crystalline marble bathrooms with sea-toned mosaic decorations by SICIS and elegant washbasins by Villeroy & Boch. These striking pieces also appear in the guest bathrooms, along with the evocative botanically- inspired mosaics, also by Sicis.
The surrounding landscape pervades the design, from the lounges to the guest and master bedrooms and the kitchen. The effect is almost overwhelming, offering ever-changing views where light and greenery become an integral part of the architecture. This intense dialogue with Nature reaches its climax in the relaxation areas of the garden and swimming pool, and in the terrace roof with its evocative floorboards that reach towards the Mediterranean.
Located in Costa Smeralda, on top of a promontory carved by the wind, this villa is the result of the balance between aesthetics, quality and functionality. Both the architecture and the interiors were conceived and built by Exclusiva: a highly complex project, which required time and great attention to clearly define spaces and functions. The building is a perfect example of contemporary residential architecture in an exceptional setting.
If travertine dominates the exteriors, the interiors are an expression of attention to detail where the precious materials, unique objects and artistic decorations create an elegant atmosphere. The interaction between indoor and outdoor is continuous, playing with the light, the colours and the scents of the surrounding nature, thanks to the large windows that frame the landscape.
Team:
ARCHITECTURAL AND INTERIOR DESIGN PROJECT: Fabio Mazzeo
PRINCIPAL: Exclusiva Design
Design team: Alessio Barilari (team leader), Gianluca Bilotta, Maria Elena Crescini,
Valentina Martino, Valeria Paganini
Project Management: Gabriella Brignone, Federico Grisolia, Paola Scianna
Decoration team, Stefana Andrici, Paola Bacchi, Francesco Pogliaghi, Lara Pollara
Photo credits: Massimo Camplone, Fabio Barilari
Materials Used:
Antonio Lupi, Arketipo, Arven, Barrisol, BS Collection, Capital, Casamilano, Castiflex, Catalano, Catellani&Smith, Davidson, De Castelli, Dennis Miller New York, DK Home, Driade, Eurocave, Fantini, Fendi Casa, Fir, Floor Gres, Formia Glass, Gamma Delta Group, IVV, La Fibule, Latifoglia, Laudarte, Living Divani, L’Oca Nera, Lolli e Memmoli, Mascheroni, Meridiani, Minotti, Nilo Spa Design, Opera Contemporary, Porada, Porta Romana, Rubelli, SICIS, Sigma L2, Smania, Swarovski, Villeroy & Boch, TECE, THG, Toto, Twils, Versace Home, Visionnaire, Vistosi, Zanaboni, Zonca.
