Casa Malaparte: Capri's Stone Jewel

Situated on a dramatic cliff on the island of Capri, Italy, lies an architectural marvel that seems as if chiseled from the landscape itself – the dwelling that was christened Casa Malaparte. This house of enigmas, woven into the fabric of the Mediterranean ambiance, stands not merely as a relic of modern architecture but as a testament to its initial inhabitant – Curzio Malaparte, the controversial Italian writer, and diplomat. A symbol of a distinct aesthetic, this edifice is a rebellious ode to solitary grandeur.

The residence, often envisioned as a ship stranded on the cliff of Punta Massullo, was built to serve as a solitary refuge for Malaparte, following his political exile. The writer's disdain for conventional bourgeois values manifested in the house’s design – evoking an air of the avant-garde against the backdrop of traditional Italian architecture. The name Casa Malaparte further reinforces this sentiment. By deliberately opting for the term "Casa" instead of "Villa," Malaparte not only defied societal expectations but also undermined the associations of opulence and status typically associated with the latter.

The house’s architectonic profile is markedly unique. The stairs, resembling an inverted pyramid, lead to a terrace – the heart of Casa Malaparte. This spectacular outdoor stage invites the infinite expanse of sea and sky into a dialog with its geometric solidity. The terrace’s grandeur is the open secret of the house's allure, the place where Malaparte would often recline, engaging with the surrounding sea, sky, and rugged terrain – engaging with life.

However, the house's famed popularity does not merely rest on its architectural audacity. Its foray into the realm of cinema, courtesy of the legendary director Jean-Luc Godard, rendered it a cultural icon. The film, "Le Mépris" (Contempt, 1963), wove the Casa into its narrative, making the edifice an unlikely protagonist.

Le Mepris, 1963

In "Le Mépris", the house's intriguing form served as the stage for the unfolding human drama. The film’s characters, enmeshed in a web of personal and creative conflicts, moved within the Casa's spatial boundaries, underlining its essence as a refuge, a theater, and a witness. Godard ingeniously aligned Casa Malaparte with Greek mythology, equating the staircase with a ritualistic altar and the terrace with an ancient theatre, a place for human emotions to play out.

© Francois Halard

This labyrinth of stone, sitting unassumingly on Capri's coast, has seen many epochs go by. From its inception in the turmoil of Malaparte's life, through its cinematic exploits, and into the present day, the Casa has retained an aura of timeless allure. Each generation experiences and interprets the Casa's charm in its own way. It has also found favor in the realm of fashion, serving as a picturesque location for fashion campaigns, with designers entranced by its compelling blend of modernist design and raw natural beauty.

The house, much like its creator, seems to echo Malaparte's own words: "I wanted a house that was like me, outside the rules of architecture...free, solitary, and defiant."