Casa Albero is something of a mystery. The holiday home was constructed by a group of Italian architects in the brutalist style of the 1960s and 1970s. The intention was to experiment with different architectural techniques and forms of living spaces of the time. Since then, it has become the ideal backdrop to present the versatile and sleek LUA collection.
Casa Albero can be found in the seaside town of Fregene, near Rome. The construction of the home took place over the course of seven years. Today, the home stands abandoned, covered in graffiti and overgrown vines. But even as time has passed, the structure remains as strong and alluring as ever. When you approach Casa Albero, you are immediately struck by the use of materials like concrete and metal to create organic shapes.
This is typical of Brutalist architecture which emphasizes the use of raw materials, textures, and construction to produce highly expressive forms. In the case of Casa Albero, the architects took it one step further and created circular objects that balance the otherwise elevated home. Entering Casa Albero requires crossing a single red staircase, which can be lifted up like a drawbridge to cut the treehouse off from the ground. Once inside, you can appreciate the different living spaces that are not only functional but also controversial because they challenge the blueprint of typical habitable rooms. Today, it has become more apparent just how important it is to protect brutalist structures like this one from demolition and disrepair. Casa Albero has been abandoned since the architects’ deaths, but initiatives like the one LAUFEN led can help bring a renewed sense of appreciation to these spaces. Juxtaposing the clean and modern pieces from the LUA collection against the rugged and raw Casa Albero shows the fascination for design, whether in art or architecture that stands the passage of time. And brings new possibilities to the home and bathroom spaces in the 21st century.
The outcome is an opportunity to revitalize interest in these long-lost places. And we’re not the only ones who want to protect and preserve Casa Albero. According to a team of researchers who are documenting the home, "Casa Albero deserves to be comprehensively researched and documented so that its story is not lost and so that professionals and students around the world can learn from it before it is lost forever to the ravages of neglect." As appreciation grows, LAUFEN believes the campaign will continue to shine a light on the forgotten brutalist relic and build a wider appreciation for its contribution to art, design, and architecture for years to come.