Place of the soul par excellence; infinite and indefinite vital presence, surprisingly multifaceted, intimately familiar yet eternally foreign, where every day to lose and find oneself. It represents a silent and passionate tribute to the enchantment of the sea at sunset – with its endless suggestions of unexpected hues, of light and glow, of vivid and intense colors that suddenly turn into a soft delicate radiance – the Neapolitan architect Valentina Autiero’s design intervention in the restyling of the six rooms with breathtaking views that make up Laqua by the Sea, Cinzia and Antonino Cannavacciuolo’s cliff-top guest house in Meta, in the heart of the Sorrento Peninsula.
Part of Laqua Collection, Laqua by the Sea welcomes guests with five sumptuous Deluxe rooms and one Classic. Every corner of this beautiful property reflects an atmosphere of luxury and tranquility, in the context of which the panoramic terraces and infinity pool blend harmoniously with the surrounding seascape. Here, every detail is taken care of with love and attention to create an unparalleled experience of relaxation and well-being. Every moment spent at Laqua by the Sea is an invitation to celebrate the magical encounter between man and the sea, fully immersing oneself in the beauty and serenity of the surroundings.
Valentina Autiero – founder and driving force behind the eponymous architecture and interiors firm, formerly part of the project team of Laqua Countryside in the hilly Sorrentino hinterland – cloaks the resort rooms with a new identity with a vibrant soul and magnetic personality. The heart and core of the project is the presence of scenic elements with a curvilinear character, revealing an innate sculptural nature and undisputed scenic appeal, as an inspired tribute to the dynamic and unpredictable transformism of sea waves at sunset.
Even at first glance, the floor plan conformation of each room appears to lean prominently toward the marine element below thanks to the imposing presence of a full-height glass wall: such a spatial component breaks through the frontal perspective and suggests in an immediate mode the direct and constant dialogue with the sea, for all intents and purposes a grand and striking presence of the surrounding context and landscape. The architect’s new room design is thus developed in full awareness of the changing dynamism of the perception of rooms and atmospheres, which range following an eternally changing color palette, starting from the algid blues of dawn to the fiery reds of sunset.
The marine element – infinite and indefinite living presence, multifaceted and transformative, at once intimately familiar and hopelessly foreign – has always proved to be a vital, necessary and indispensable source of inspiration for Valentina Autiero. Thus, in the designer’s architectural making, perspective lines, objects, materials and surfaces, lights and shadows, solid and voids play multifaceted roles, often unexpected and unpredictable, and each day compose the harmonious plot of domestic staging: no longer mere scenic backdrops, but presences that capture and reflect fragments of life, to recompose them and return them according to ever new and surprising trajectories.
In the context of the rooms of Laqua by the Sea reinterpreted by the architect, a series of monolithic sculptures made of Persian red travertine prove to be the undisputed protagonists of the design intervention understood as a whole. Such fascinating and magnetic presences, declined in different modes according to a common curvilinear pattern, create preferential perspective views and spectacular scenic backdrops at the spaces expressly dedicated to the water element and self-care – shower corner, outdoor whirlpool bath corner and sink corner- in a veritable ode to time found again. The evident prominence of these areas withing the restyling project also once again underscores the strong focus on wellness that has always animated Laqua by the Sea and more generally all the Laqua Collection’s resorts.
In an open formal dialogue with the red travertine and its sinuous nature, a tone-on-tone upholstered fabric paneling with a curvilinear pattern again enhances an additional subspace dedicated to comfort and relaxation. Flexuously shaped – once gain declared homage to the sea waves and their changing ripples in contact with the sunset breeze – protrudes is sculptural mode along the wall, where it defines and accommodates the bed area. The latter, located at the furthest point of the room and highlighted by a dedicated ceiling lighting system, thus becomes a true privileged observatory from which to fully enjoy the beauty that pervades the surrounding landscape.
In open contrast to the curvilinear elements that characterize the rooms, the wall in front of the bed are reveals the presence of a metal structure with a strong personality – distinguished by the geometric stroke and irregular course – which accommodates an additional subspace dedicated to relaxation with armchairs and a wooden coffee table, ideal for indulging in favorite readings as well as pastimes of the heart or, more simply, contemplating the breathtaking view that pervades the environment. Such a structure proves to be the perfect backdrop for a sentimental tribute to the traditions of the area: thus, hosts a selection of works of high Campanian craftsmanship, including some clay sculptures very dear to the Cannavacciuolo family, made by Antonino’s father.
After graduating in architecture from the Federico II University in Naples, Valentina Autiero founded in the heart of the Sorrento Peninsula the architecture, interiors and design projects studio named after her.
The studio engages in architectural and interior design, product design, art direction and strategic consulting. Over the years, he creates accommodation facilities and boutique hotels, commercial spaces, stores, lounge bars and cafes, villas and private residences, exhibitions and installations. Also strong is the interest in design planning, in which it experiments with new dialogues between materials and forms, with a distinctive vision towards paths of sustainability.
With the restyling of Laqua by the Sea, Valentina Autiero continues her collaboration with the Cannvacciuolo family, which had already materialized in the context of the project team of Laqua Countryside.
The Laqua Collection, born out of Antonino and Cinzia Cannavacciuolo’s desire to offer hospitality of excellence, includes four facilities that embody the idea of well-being that the owners wish to give guests.
La Casa in Collina, Laqua Vineyard, located in the Tuscan hills between Pisa and Volterra, offers six elegant, minimalist suites overlooking pastel-colored landscapes and vineyards. Each suite is named after a deity from Greek mythology and offers an authentic rural experience, complemented by a Wellness Experience area. The Michelin-starred Cannavacciuolo Vineyard restaurant offers a gastronomic journey of discovery through villages and vineyards in the heart of the surrounding countryside.
La Casa al Lago, Laqua by the Lake, on Lake Orta, offers sixteen wraparound, cozy suites with direct access to the lake, an exclusive new dock and two penthouses with a large lake-view terrace and hot tub. The resort promotes environmental sustainability and offers a spa, a Beach Club, and the Cannavacciuolo by the Lake restaurant where you can treat yourself to a gourmet lake-view experience.
The House by the Sea, Laqua by the Sea, on the Sorrento Peninsula, offers five Deluxe and one Classic room, with panoramic terraces and an infinity pool, creating a relaxing and wellness experience. Every detail is designed to instill guests with a feeling of calm and tranquility, celebrating the encounter between man and the sea.
The Countryside House, Laqua Countryside, in the hamlet of Ticciano, Vico Equense, is an old family home converted into a resort, with six rooms each dedicated to a moment in the life of Chef Cannavacciuolo. Materials and furnishings tell the story of each room, offering guests an intimate and authentic experience. The Michelin-starred Cannavacciuolo Countryside restaurant offers cuisine that combines local products with the culinary traditions of Campania.