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CASA MALAPARTE
A HOUSE LIKE ME

Illinois Institute of Technology
Instructor: Amanda Williams
Spring, 2013

"Now I live on an island, in an austere and melancholy house, which I built myself on a lonely cliff above the sea. [It is] the image of my desire."

— Curzio Malaparte

A case study of Villa Malaparte was conducted to investigate the house and its author, as it reflects Curzio Malaparte’s personal character while ascending into nature and the infinite horizon through its integral design. Casa Malaparte, located on Capri Island, Italy, was constructed between 1938 and 1942. The house blends harmoniously with the cliff landscape, boasting unconventional design elements such as geometric lines and a vibrant red staircase that leads to the horizon through the roof terrace. Accessible only by foot or boat, it offers seclusion and spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea. Although the involvement of Adalberto Libera is still disputed, the house clearly echoes the writer’s spirit through isolation and autonomy. Casa Malaparte reflects his literary works The Skin and Kaputt, which explore human nature and themes of war and political struggles of the era; these elements are evident in the surfaces, rough stone walls, raw wood, and fortress-like aesthetic.

Contact

Bishrelt.solongo@yale.edu
Linkedin
+1 203.676.8207

About

An architect and researcher based in New York and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, currently pursuing a Post-Professional Degree at Yale School of Architecture. His research explores traditional building practices and lifestyles to support the long-term sustainability of nomadic heritage.

Drawings

“For me, drawing has always been the most fundamental way of engaging the world, I’m convinced that it is only through drawing that I actually look at things, carefully. The act of drawing makes me conscious of what I’m looking at. If I wasn’t drawing I sense that I would not be seeing.” -Milton Glaser