Radical renovation by Brandlhuber+ Michalsky & Wagner, Erica Overmeer in Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily

Via Costamante, your new address

In the oldest part of Castellammare del Golfo, around the corner from the sea, we enter Via Costamante with three- to four-story houses built side by side. The intimate atmosphere makes us quieter. Inhabited by people and cats all year round, the alley is a meeting zone. Holidays are made elsewhere, here people live and work. As a non-resident, you are automatically integrated. A good feeling.

The first 10 seconds in the apartment

I enter the reception hall open to the top. Open, floating cubes, connected by the narrow staircase, my eye finds hardly any hold. What a brilliant opening move by the architects. Relieving the focus on a familiar form: the Box Chair by Enzo Mari for Driade (1990). A flash: "This apartment was built for a chair by Enzo Mari."

Transformative, indeed

The old house underwent a radical intervention for use as a holiday apartment. No surprise, given the uncompromising attitude of these architects. The original structure consisted of three cubes, which differ in height and volume and were opened so that a narrow connecting corridor could access all areas of the apartment. For this spatial continuum, the existing stairs were exposed, and all adjacent rooms, except for the two bedrooms, were integrated with breakthroughs into the continuous space. Reinforcements were required: steel beams support walls and pillars. At the end of the spiral path, a large window leads to the roof terrace, from which one can now enjoy an unobstructed view of the sea thanks to a modification of the existing roof.

Architecture that makes us freer

This masterfully built spatial continuum, with significant construction effort, proves on 85 m2 of living space that architecture supports us in being a more satisfied, more open version of ourselves. Nice to see also that uplifting spatial feelings do not depend on room size – which would bring us back to Enzo Mari.

Never a dull moment

One can't get enough of this architectural sightseeing.

White is a state: built-in, built-out, materials, technology

White is more than a color in Via Costamante. The chalky white of all undecorated walls and ceilings. The white metal pipe railings with spacious swing. The floors and table tops. The surfaces of the planned furniture modules: all highly precise marble work. The stone itself, white with beautiful depth, subtly veined. Cut out of a marble block, which the architects selected in the quarry. The highlight is the atypical laying pattern: a minimalist mosaic of many mostly large plates with asymmetrical and triangular surfaces. The inhabitants have not decorated the walls with art, understandably. They are satisfied with the minimal art of the marble mosaic on the floor. By the way, as the only house in the area, underfloor heating is installed throughout: in winter, people like to come into the house.

Location, surroundings, development

Castellammare del Golfo has remained beautifully normal, suitable for everyday life. The town and administration function. In Sicily, people are direct and down-to-earth. Castellammare is not as elegant as Capri, but fascinating and beautiful, with plenty of charm and energy. With excellent flaneur qualities and surprising cleanliness. A classic Sicilian seaside resort with many craft and commercial enterprises, restaurants, bars. A place where one can eat and bathe well and get almost everything. Except perhaps Kägi fret. Recently, the harbor town in the center has set up a beach. In general, the beach-hopping opportunities are excellent. Towards Scopello, in Sicily's oldest nature reserve Zingaro, are the nicest. The local fish is still bought early in the morning directly from the fishermen. Mountains, nature reserve, beaches are so close that one can go there daily. In an hour, one is in Palermo to bring the adrenaline level back to normal. To the opera, to a vernissage. A more fascinating European harbor city would have to be drawn. Nice to return home afterwards.

Landscape

Meanwhile, the building zones are strongly regulated, and landscape protection applies in the perimeter of the nature reserve.

Enzo Mari

The charismatic designer, author, and teacher became known for his work for companies such as Danese Milano, Gavina, Artemide, Olivetti, Driade, and Castelli, as well as for his books on design. For Mari, design should be compatible with the environment, not a luxury product. Functionality and design were more important to him than mere appearance and the star design system. His interest was particularly in the psychology of visual perception.