Contemporary Mosaics for a Dream Residence in the Balearics
In Mallorca, architects Nespoli and Novara chose Friul Mosaic’s mosaic creations to cover the interiors and exteriors of a villa immersed in nature
Emerging in an environment dominated by the splendor of nature was not easy. Thanks to the refined contemporary mosaics by Friul Mosaic chosen to cover interior and exterior spaces, architects Nespoli and Novara succeeded in the feat by eliminating the boundaries between inside and outside.
The heart of this adventure is a villa located on a hill in the hinterland of Mallorca, with the Mediterranean on the horizon and greenery all around. In this earthly paradise, the Seregno (MB) studio created a luxurious summer residence literally open to the surrounding landscape, with a large and elegant patio that, with its small and refined swimming pool, ideally acts as a point of contact with the surrounding nature and the sea just a little further away. The residence is dominated by neutral colors, perfectly integrated with the color palette of the region, while the leitmotif of the design choice is represented by the coexistence and dialogue between classic and contemporary.
A perfect example of this meeting of shades and styles, of ancient wisdom and timeless taste are the contemporary mosaics chosen to cover the surfaces of the entire villa, both in the open and closed spaces, which are thus ideally connected. All designed by Friul Mosaic, excellence in the production of strictly artisanal mosaics, the coverings chosen by the Lombard designers range from some of the most fascinating lines of the artisans of San Martino al Tagliamento (PN).
Hexagons, a perfect balance between classic and modern
One of the proposals from the Contemporaneo collection of the Friulian company was used to cover the interior of the small but refined swimming pool. This is the Esagoni line, chosen in the Nero Marquina and Carrara variants and perfect, like the other compositions in the collection, in reproposing the essential forms of classic and contemporary taste with textures marked by clear chromatic transitions.
Tessere, for contemporary mosaics that become fabrics
Entering the villa, the living area has instead been covered with the compositions of the Traccia line. Here, chosen in the Bianco Thassos, Carrara and Nero Marquina variants, these mosaics belong to the Tessere collection created by the designer and architect Luisa Bocchietto. Certainly not by chance, the name of this collection is intended to recall both the sense of making, namely weaving, and the final product, made up of the tiles of a new mosaic.
The result of an in-depth study of fabrics and weaves in their construction and formal composition, Tessere represents the synthesis between mosaic art and ancient textile art, a union that gives rise to a collection of surfaces that are handcrafted from every point of view. In fact, it is a collection inspired by the world of historic fabrics from the Biella-based company Piacenza1733, a leader in the processing of top-quality yarns from whose archive the 7 patterns that characterize the mosaic decorations were taken.
Rete, overlapping mesh geometries
Going out again into the outdoor spaces of the Majorcan villa, we encounter other surfaces covered with Friul Mosaic creations. This is the case of Rete, a line from the Contemporaneo catalogue that comes to life from the meeting of geometries, giving rise to a network of overlapping meshes. Chosen in the Bianco Thassos, Carrara and Nero Marquina variants, these coverings decorate the terraces of the villa in the east wing intended for guests.
The fabulous house designed by Nespoli and Novara is one of the cases in which Friul Mosaic’s ability to combine tradition and innovation has found its maximum expression. An example of the evolution of mosaic art, the Friulian company relies on its work rigorously carried out by hand using the traditional hammer by expert craftsmen from the prestigious School of Mosaicists in Spilimbergo (PN), a world-famous training center.
Friul Mosaic, a tradition of artisan excellence
Founded in 1987 by Master mosaicist William Bertoia, Friul Mosaic is now active in both the residential and hospitality sectors, collaborating with numerous architectural studios, interior designers and designers around the world, as well as with important international fashion brands, who have brought the beauty of these contemporary mosaics into their boutiques.
There is also no shortage of forays into the field of religious architecture, as demonstrated by the important work on the mosaic covering of the great basilica of Aparecida, in the state of São Paulo in Brazil, which lasted two years and was completed in October 2015. Other collaborations include several Dolce&Gabbana stores around the world, as well as work on exclusive hotels in Italy and abroad, including the Cipriani in Milan, the historic Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo, and the extremely elegant Hotel Bulgari in Rome, which opened in 2023.
