Modernist Well-Crafted Vacation House In Corsica

Architect Amelia Tavella was commissioned to transform a 1950s rundown house into a modern holiday retreat in her native land, Corsica. Located right by the sea, Casa Santa Teresa is blessed with beautiful views of the gulf of Ajaccio which Tavella has elegantly framed throughout the house. Pairing modernist purity well-crafted natural materials, the property embodies the essence of summer living.

Comprising four floors, with the lower two housing the living areas and the upper two the private quarters, the whitewashed building is orientated towards the sea, with the interiors spilling out on the exterior through a series of terraces and balconies.

On the ground floor, a stone-paved courtyard at the back of the house, lined with lush vegetation, is made up by a shaded alfresco dining area and a sun-kissed pool deck, just a few steps away from the beach. Overlooking the terrace and pool below, the generous living area on the first floor opens out to a spacious terrace subtly delineated by a rope balustrade. Built-in seating, graceful archways and arched alcoves, separate the light-filled space into living, dining and study areas without undermining the open-plan configuration, while three pivoting glass doors elegantly allow for expansive vistas.

The muted, all-white interiors are complemented by a sparse selection of furniture in natural materials such as wooden tables, cane chairs and wicker light fittings, while striped orange and blue pillows add splashes of color. The same combination of white surfaces and natural materials continues in the private quarters perched on the two upper floors. Accessed via a wooden staircase, the five bedrooms enjoy views of the sea, with the master bedroom featuring its own terrace.