Casa CH – A period flat brought back to life in Chiaia, Naples

In the Chiaia district of Naples, a small flat in a late 19th-century building has been redesigned to generate rental income. The passage of time and numerous alterations had fragmented the space into small, irregular and confusing rooms, making the flat dark and chaotic. The heavy load-bearing stone walls dictated the layout, but the owners wanted more rational, visually spacious rooms suited to contemporary living, capable of attracting potential tenants. The challenge was therefore twofold: to restore light and order, whilst also ensuring flexibility, for a property intended for the rental market.

The project by Barberio Colella Architetti opens up the main spaces defined by the load‑bearing walls and removes all the non-load‑bearing partitions, restoring clarity to the original structure. The large, dark entrance hall is transformed by relocating the bathroom to the blind corner of the room: this frees up the window, which is then used to create a bright small bedroom-cum-study. Separated from the entrance hall and the corridor by a large, openable glass wall, this versatile room can easily be converted from a study into an additional bedroom thanks to curtains that ensure privacy when needed. For a property intended to generate rental income, this extra room is as valuable as a whole room in its own right.

The other two main rooms comprise a spacious double bedroom and the living-dining area. The living room is once again a single open-plan space bathed in light from two tall windows, around which domestic life revolves. On one side is an L-shaped kitchen, designed by The Firm; on the opposite side, a brick wall frames a bioethanol fireplace, created by utilising an existing recess within the thickness of the wall. The Hungarian-patterned oak parquet flooring and the teal colour on the walls create a dialogue between the classic atmosphere of the historic flat and a more minimalist contemporary style.

The property’s historic character has been preserved through the restoration of the original double-leaf doors and their timber door frames, which serve as elements of material continuity between the rooms. Floor-to-ceiling curtains emphasise the verticality of the windows and make the living room feel more spacious. The result is a bright, tidy and flexible flat, ready for letting, where a few simple touches and the restored period features lend it character. Casa CH applies the approach of The Firm founded by Maurizio Barberio and Micaela Colella to small-scale projects, where interior architecture stems from listening to the building and respecting its history, rather than from the addition of elements.