Interior Architecture in Adriatic Coastal Residence | barth

Since 1877, barth has created bespoke interior solutions for jewelers, boutiques, museums, company headquarters, private residences, and hospitality spaces around the world.

Portopiccolo, situated on the northern Adriatic coast between Miramare and Duino, is a contemporary seaside development embedded into the steep topography of a former limestone quarry. With terraced structures, exposed stone façades, pergolas, and narrow pedestrian alleys, the master plan resembles a Mediterranean hillside village—crafted yet contextual.

This private residence negotiates between landscape, materiality, and interior spatiality. What began as an interior-focused commission evolved into an integrated architectural intervention. Driven by the client's sensibility for design, materials, and spatial coherence, the project ultimately informed the building’s façade and the surrounding exterior zones. Interior and exterior are no longer separate domains, but components of a unified space.

At the core of the design lies a precise material concept. Untreated solid woods, semantically grounded natural stones, and expressive marble surfaces shape the tactile and visual experience of the home. Oak surfaces provide warmth and continuity, while vivid padouk contrasts elegantly with soft travertine. These materials are not decorative accents but integral to the architectural language.

The kitchen exemplifies this approach: conceived as a functional sculpture, it features a sliding marble island top and integrated lighting elements. A backlit natural stone wall becomes both surface and ambient light source, reflecting the project's layered material logic.

All interior elements were custom-designed and manufactured to respond to the residence's spatial and atmospheric conditions. This includes the integrated lighting system and bespoke furniture. Exterior terraces, both on the lower and upper levels, were designed to be spatial extensions of the interior. Shaded by three architectural pergolas, they offer zones of retreat and openness, accompanied by a cooling plunge basin and carefully curated outdoor furnishings.

The entire interior construction—including detailing, fabrication, and installation—was executed by barth, a specialist in high-end interior architecture. Developed in close collaboration with the project’s architects, the implementation was characterized by precision, technical expertise, and a deep sensitivity to materials and spatial flow.

This residence in Portopiccolo demonstrates how interior articulation can influence broader architectural outcomes. It is a case study in how spatial coherence, craftsmanship, and context-aware design converge to form a timeless and atmospherically rich living environment.

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