Laqua by the Sea | by Valentina Autiero

The spectacular clifftop resort of chef Antonino Cannavacciuolo in the heart of the Sorrento Peninsula. A tribute to the Mediterranean in the restyling project of Laqua by the Sea by architect Valentina Autiero. The resort is part of Laqua Collection, a set of four exclusive locations symbolic of top-tier hospitality, created on the basis of an idea from the famous Italian chef. A spiritually uplifting place; an infinite and indefinite vital presence, surprisingly multi-faceted, intimately familiar yet eternally unknown, where guests can lose and then find themselves again every single day.

The input of Neapolitan architect Valentina Autiero represents a silent and passionate tribute to the charm of the sea at sunset – with the infinite splendour of its unexpected nuances of light and shadow, of vivid and intense colours which suddenly transform into a delicate, tenuous radiance – in the restyling of the six rooms with breath-taking views which comprise Laqua by the Sea, Cinzia and Antonino Cannavacciuolo’s clifftop guest house in Meta, in the heart of the Sorrento Peninsula.

Part of Laqua Collection, Laqua by the Sea welcomes its guests with five sumptuous deluxe rooms and one classic room. Every corner of this splendid structure reflects an atmosphere of luxurious tranquillity, in the context of which the panoramic terraces and infinity pool meld harmoniously into the surrounding marine landscape. Here, every detail is curated with love and attention to create a peerless experience of relaxation and well-being. Each moment spent at Laqua by the Sea is an invitation to celebrate the magical encounter between man and mare, completely immersing oneself in the serenity of the surrounding environment.

Valentina Autiero – founder and driving force behind the eponymous architecture and interior design practice, which was already part of the design team for the Laqua Countryside project in the hills inland of the Sorrento Peninsula – has adorned the resort’s rooms with a new identity featuring a vibrant spirit and magnetic personality.

The project revolves around the presence of curved design elements which exhibit an innate sculptural nature and an undisputed scenic appeal, as an inspired tribute to the dynamic and unpredictable shifts of the waves at sunset.

Right from the first glance, the layout of each room appears to clearly extend towards the sea below, thanks to the imposing presence of a full-height glazed partition: this spatial component breaks down the frontal perspective and is immediately suggestive of the direct and constant dialogue with the sea, to all intents and purposes the magnificent and evocative presence of the surrounding landscape and context. The architect’s new design of the rooms is thus developed in full awareness of the iridescent dynamism of the perception of the environments and atmospheres, featuring a varied palette of colours which is continually evolving, ranging from the cold blues of dawn to the fiery reds of sunset.

The marine element – an infinite and undefined living presence, multi-faceted and transformational, and at the same time intimately familiar and irredeemably extraneous – has always been a vital necessary and essential source of inspiration for Valentina Autiero. Thus, in the designer’s architectural work, lines of perspective, objects, materials and surfaces, light and shadow, solids and voids all play multifarious roles, often unexpected and unpredictable, every day composing the harmonic plot of the domestic scenery setting: no longer simple scenic backdrops, but presences which capture and reflect fragments of life, before recomposing them and setting them on always new and surprising paths.

In the context of Laqua by the Sea’s rooms, as reinterpreted by the architect, a series of monolithic sculptural features in Persian red travertine take an uncontested and undisputed leading role in the design project seen in its entirety. These appealingly magnetic presences, all different yet featuring a common curved profile, create preferential visual perspectives and spectacular scenic backgrounds for the spaces expressly dedicated to elemental water and personal care – the shower area, the external whirlpool tub, and a corner with the free-standing designer basin – in a genuine ode to time taken back for oneself. The clear leading role taken by these areas within the restyling project further highlights the strong focus on well-being which has always been the driving force behind Laqua by the Sea and, more generally, all the Laqua Collection resorts.

In open dialogue with the red travertine and its sinuous nature, padded and upholstered wainscoting, once again featuring deep curves, enhances a further sub-area dedicated to comfort and relaxation. Gracefully moulded, and once again a deliberate homage to the waves and their ever-changing ripples as they meet the breeze at sunset, it extends in sculptural fashion along the wall, where it defines and encompasses the sleeping area. The bed itself, located at the far end of the room and emphasised by a dedicated ceiling lighting system, thus becomes a fully fledged and privileged vantage point from which to fully enjoy the beauty which pervades the surrounding landscape.

In open contrast with the curved elements characterising the rooms, the wall opposite the bed area features a decorative metal structure with a strong personality – geometric yet irregular in design – which delineates a further subspace dedicated to relaxation with wooden armchairs and coffee tables, ideal for reading or other favourite pastimes, or simply for contemplating the breathtaking view.

The structure is the perfect backdrop for a sentimental tribute to local traditions, and thus hosts a selection of pieces of great craftsmanship from the Campania region, including some clay sculptures which are very dear to the Cannavacciuolo family as they were made by Antonino’s father.

In her restyling of Laqua by the Sea, Valentina Autiero has continued her work with the Cannavacciuolo family, which had previously already taken concrete form in the context of the Laqua Countryside design team.

Facts & Credits

Project title: Laqua by the Sea

Project type: Hospitality architecture | Interiors

Project location: Sorrento Peninsula

Interior architecture: Valentina Autiero

Text: Provided by the authors

Photography: Carlo Oriente