The two worlds of Casa Malaparte

Both the domestic and the monumental can be found in Casa Malaparte. It is one of the most interesting, debated and evocative dwellings of the Modern Movement. This project can be seen as ‘peculiar’ when contrasted with the impressive beauty in which it is built. It suggests the domesticity of a regular house, but simultaneously evokes the idea of something monumental, giving it an almost mythical character. This paper examines the spatiality of this house, which exists somewhere between what can be seen and what is hidden. The dwelling has the capacity to reflect the personality of its owner, the Italian writer Curzio Malaparte, and his experience in exile. Malaparte actively sought to live in a solitary house that at the same time satisfied his desire for space. The solarium, with a view of the countryside and sea, directly captures the Capri sun. The Italian architect, Adalberto Libera’s vision was a building that was opaque, hermetic, revealed its own solitude and remained in one’s memory as a sketch of Mediterranean culture.