In Palermo, just steps from the emerald bay of Mondello, stands Villa Liberty, an elegant early 20th century mansion immersed in Mediterranean lushness of gardens, which has recently been brought back to life. Behind the makeover is Milan-based studio MAB Arquitectura, which took on a daunting task: to breathe new life into the monument without dumbing down its history. I... succeeded!
Villa Liberty in Palermo - the villa is surrounded by a garden, and there is a swimming pool in front of the house
Photo by Benedetto Tarantino © MAB Arquitectura
Redesigned
- A residence in the spirit of Sicilian Liberty
Villa Liberty was built with leisure in mind - originally as a military pavilion, it was later transformed by the family of Counts Tasca d "Almerita into an elegant summer residence. Its form is a praise of the Liberty style (a.k.a. floral style), an Italian variant of Art Nouveau, which took on its own distinctive color in Sicily. The architects of MAB Arquitectura not only carefully read this language, but also found a new form of expression for it - one that does not fall into sentimentalism, but subtly develops the original narrative of the building. The layout of the villa is based on a clear order, and the center is a representative staircase with a decorative skylight and a stained glass window by Pietro Bevilacqua - depicting two peacocks, a symbol of eternity, beauty and pride.
Villa Liberty in Palermo - bird's eye view
photo by Benedetto Tarantino © MAB Arquitectura
The space around the tower - the functional layout
and relationship with the landscape
The villa's exterior form impresses with the rhythm of the windows, the fluidity of the lines and the artful details - from the majolica tiles at the foot of the facade, to the carved cornices and the wrought-iron balustrade of the terrace. The color palette has been restored to its original tones - bright, cool tones in harmony with the glow of the Sicilian sun and the blue sky. The Marmorino plaster used in the facade restoration is not only a nod to local tradition - it is also a conscious aesthetic choice that allows the walls to breathe and tell a story.
Villa Liberty in Palermo - stained glass window, located by the staircase
photo by Benedetto Tarantino © MAB Arquitectura
The garden surrounding the villa was not "redesigned" - was restored. Old paths, geometric flowerbeds, tree shades. In the quietest part of the property, the architects introduced one contemporary gesture - an infinity pool, lined with white Modica stone. It is like the surface of a mirror, in which the house is reflected - new, but not unfamiliar.
Villa Liberty in Palermo - from the balcony you can enjoy the view of the beach and the sea
photo by Benedetto Tarantino © MAB Arquitectura
Revitalizing interiors with character
Each room of the villa speaks in a different tone, creating a cohesive whole together. In the living room, whose main axis is the fireplace and restored paneling, one can still feel the echo of past conversations. The kitchen - bright and clear - is dominated by a central island of wood and marble, inscribed in a floor with a pattern inspired by old cement tiles. Upstairs bedrooms open onto terraces lined with majolica. The original oak parquet floors, stucco, doors, and windows have been preserved throughout the house.
Villa Liberty in Palermo - each room of the villa speaks in a different tone, creating a cohesive whole together
photo by Benedetto Tarantino © MAB Arquitectura
A renovation that respects heritage
What sets MAB Arquitectura's design apart is its lack of imposition. The architects don't come here with ready-made solutions - rather, they listen. Sometimes they add details. Their interventions are economical, apt, organic. New materials - wood, metal, stone - have been chosen with sensitivity and moderation. The color scheme of the interiors is based on the shadows of the sea, sand, leaves - nothing here is random, nothing is flashy.
Mediterranean cities have a great wealth of history, culture and traditions. In our work, we try to preserve and highlight this richness, reinterpreting the spaces according to contemporary needs. We work with local materials, traditional architectural forms and landscape approaches inspired by the natural beauty of the Mediterranean Sea
- emphasize the architects at MAB Arquitectura,
Florian Marotta and Massimo Basile.
In bringing the villa back to life, a new story was not created. What was restored was the voice of the old one, which still has much to say. And perhaps that is what is most valuable about this realization: the realization that architecture is not just about space. It is also memory, emotion and time.
