Casa FR – A light-filled retreat in a period flat in Chiaia, Naples

In Naples, in the Chiaia district, a small flat in a late 19th-century building has been reimagined as a personal retreat for the client: an intimate space dedicated to relaxation and leisure. The load‑bearing stone walls clearly define the building’s structure and prevent any radical reorganisation of the rooms. The design by Barberio Colella Architetti does not force this layout, but takes it as a starting point, working within a rigid grid to bring out its latent potential and make the spaces more functional, lighter and better suited to the client’s lifestyle.

Given the modest floor area of 60 square metres, not a single centimetre could be wasted. The Firm makes the most of the existing wall niches and introduces new ones, transforming them into storage spaces and small domestic settings for the owner’s books and cherished possessions. In the living area, the long fitted wall unit in the living room is designed as a series of plasterboard recesses: it houses the television and a bioethanol fireplace and is highlighted by integrated LED lighting that creates a soft, dramatic backdrop. Storing and displaying become one and the same gesture.

The relaxing atmosphere requested by the client is reflected in a light and cohesive colour scheme. The white – which dominates the walls and furnishings – and the light-coloured oak timber parquet flooring make the main rooms bright and appear more spacious than they actually are. In a controlled contrast, the entrance hall and bathroom feature warmer, more enveloping tones, creating a more intimate transition between the entrance area and the living spaces. In the entrance hall, a round mirror and a console table create a small ritual upon arrival; in the bathroom, the continuous resin cladding on the floors and walls produces a single-material effect that reinforces the sense of tranquillity and well-being.

With just a few materials and a limited number of design interventions, the flat takes on a new perceived scale: the bespoke furnishings, the illuminated recesses and the flush-fitting doors reduce visual clutter and create a tidy, tranquil space. Casa FR applies the approach of The Firm founded by Maurizio Barberio and Micaela Colella to a small-scale context, where interior architecture arises from listening to the building and paying attention to detail, rather than from the addition of elements.