Modern design in the Bay of Naples

The architect Massimo Decimo has refurbished an apartment with views of Capri by embracing a wide range of eras and styles

The view is iconic, a real picture postcard: in front, the Bay of Naples, with the silhouette of Vesuvius and the island of Capri; behind, Vomero Hill, dominated by the Castel Sant’Elmo fortress and the Certosa di San Martino monastery. An exceptional setting, against the backdrop of which the Neapolitan architect Massimo Decimo (www.massimodecimo.it) was commissioned to restore a 250-square metre apartment in a neo-Renaissance-style building built in the early twentieth century in the Chiaia district of Naples. Decimo was determined to maintain the original style of the building and make the most of the sea views enjoyed by the entire living area. Exploiting the vast amount of natural light, Massimo Decimo designed the living area as if it had been sculpted by the light itself, with the lounge, dining room and kitchen arranged in a row and transformed into dynamic spaces thanks to the interaction between shapes (the furniture) and the light itself. Having established the hierarchy of the rooms and their proportions, it was then a matter of coming up with a design suitable for daily living, introducing functions and technology to define the different spaces to suit the lifestyle and quality requirements of the owners. The decision to entrust this multifaceted task to design was crucial. The interior decor blends seamlessly with the works of art on display.