My family comes from Palermo. This house, which was built in the 60s by my father, who was an architect, is our holiday home where I spent all my holidays as a child.
The house combines modern architectural lines with breathtaking views. The architectural vision is that of classical modernism inspired by architects Frank Lloyd Wright, Alvar Aalto and perhaps a touch of Carlo Scarpa, with subtle nautical design features such as portholes and balustrades, bringing to mind a ship at sea. Two side decks are reminiscent of old ocean liners with their iron balconies. One points towards Capo Zafferano, the other points straight out towards eternity! Nevertheless, my father, Armando Barraja’s architecture doesn’t need to fit any one modernist model. His architectural vocabulary can be seen right down to the smallest construction details and the proportionate rhythm of the modular floor units, walls and openings. Inside and out, the villa demonstrates a love of Euclidean geometry.
My grandfather, a property developer, bought the land with the intention of building small apartment blocks on it. My father, a young architect at the time, was captivated by the beauty and exceptional setting of Capo Zafferano, a 300-metre-high mountain rising out of the Mediterranean Sea. He convinced his father to build this house there. My father was also passionate about interior design, and we still have a small collection of modernist pieces in the house designed by Marcel Breuer, Carlo Scarpa, Eero Saarinen, Verner Panton, Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Joe Colombo, Richard Sapper. There is also a wooden chaise longue that has belonged to the Barraja family since the 1920s. It is a surprising object of unknown origin inspired by Charlotte Perriand's aesthetic vocabulary.
The Villa is 30 metres from the sea on the Mongerbino reef, opposite Cape Zafferano, just 12 kilometres from Palermo. It has a magnificent 3 000 m2 garden, with natural Mediterranean vegetation including olive trees, palm trees, agaves, cacti and geraniums. Its geographical location means it is cut off from the outside world, with the Mediterranean Sea and the Aeolian Islands its only, outstanding views. A main concave terrace runs the length of the house, providing plenty of space for lounging, dining in the shade or admiring the view. Further down, a second, convex terrace is the perfect place to soak up the sun or to go down to the garden steps, where a path leads directly to a private cove below.
The nearby fishing villages of Aspra and Sant'Elia-Porticello are typical Sicilian landmarks. There isn't too much tourism and the area is still authentic. The fish market is held every day and is a real experience in itself! There are plenty of fish restaurants. The ancient Greek town of Solunto, an archaeological site dating from the 8th and 7th centuries BC is nearby.
The villa is an ideal location for film and photo shoots. Photographers revel in the Mediterranean atmosphere of the sea and the light.
ref 489521
This property has been added to My favourites
This property has been deleted from My favourites
A link to enter a new password has been sent to you by email.
back
