“What I dream of is an art like a good armchair—one that offers rest from physical fatigue.” This sentence appears in the painter’s notes of Henri Matisse. Perspectives may differ, but I interpret it in two ways: by necessity and for everyone. In that sense, it resonates deeply with the spatial design we pursue. “Art like an armchair” does not simply refer to the practical function of an ordinary chair anyone can purchase; rather, much like the etymology of the word art, a skill derived from technique, it speaks to using the craft of creating beauty for those who need it. In other words, it is the desire to create an armchair that feels like art.
A young entrepreneur, filled with passion, came to our office carrying a dream. He was already running a successful Italian restaurant. The first two to three years had been marked by many ups and downs, but through viral marketing via social media, the business made a dramatic comeback and had become one of the most thriving restaurants in the area. Now, beyond sales and visibility, he dreamed of a space that could express the meaningful growth of his brand and the story he had always wanted to tell. I always begin a project with interviews about both the brand and the individual, believing that a living, breathing space must grow from them. As our conversation deepened, a glow of passion appeared in his eyes.
“I started this restaurant because I was captivated by the beauty of the Amalfi Coast, and by the passion, love, and sense of freedom of the Italian people. The Amalfi locals I encountered seemed to live for themselves. (Choosing rest over work, lying by the shore, soaking in the sun, and listening to the waves.) In the end, you have to take care of yourself and allow yourself to be cared for, but that feels difficult in the city. People tend to find that kind of rest only when they travel. I want to deliver that sense of rest through our brand, and convey it through the joy of dining out, which is one of the greatest pleasures of traveling. From the moment guests step inside, I want them to feel as if they’ve suddenly landed on the Amalfi Coast—free from everyday worries, in a space where they feel a pleasant flutter of excitement.”
As I listened to his dream-filled story, I felt the roots of a narrative quietly taking hold in my mind. The beach and love. Freedom and rest. Happiness and anticipation. A breath of fresh air away from daily life.
The key to unfolding this story became the concept of “Atelier della Musa.”
We imagined a tale of an artist living in a coastal village who falls in love with a woman visiting the sea for a retreat. The space unfolds in two parts: the seaside where he first meets his muse and falls in love, and the artist’s home where he paints the woman he loves.
Passing through the seaside exterior and entering the space, guests encounter the artist’s painting of the woman at the moment he first falls for her. Drawn in by her gaze, almost spellbound, they move further inside, only to realize they are now standing in the middle of the sea. What once seemed like a limitation of the building, its folding doors, becomes a dramatic strength: when opened, they flood the space with openness, as if embracing the sea itself. The second space, representing the artist’s atelier, uses warm, comfortable materials, allowing guests to choose the atmosphere that best suits their mood. By removing the lower portion of the existing upper windows, the atelier was reconnected to the outside, creating a continuous circulation between interior and exterior. This flow generates varied scenes from multiple viewpoints throughout the space.
Sea-toned tiles that evoke the ocean, a curved ceiling reminiscent of wings in motion and rolling waves, walls finished with natural stone tiles hand-aged to express the passage of time, custom-cut patterned tiles for walls and tables, lighting designed and crafted specifically for the space, and finally, the painting of the woman completed with the help of an artist—each element carries its own meaning. Together, they become devices that invite visitors to create a pure sense of anticipation within the sea of their own imagination.
Anticipation and love. Freedom and romance.
Happiness is, in truth, simple and modest: romantic music, the sea, someone you love—that is all. And all you need is a simple, humble heart to feel that happiness exists right here, right now.
Your own sea. Your own love. An unforgettable moment.
Here, at Villa de Bleu.
Materials Used:
Lighting: Kolamp, Vintage Disk Sconce.
Floor: Art tile, Natural stone tile
Wall: Special paint, Natural stone tile, Patterned tile, Wood carving
Ceiling: Paint, Wood film
