Casa Riera: A Contemporary Rural Oasis
This project by Serge Castella is a holiday masía (country house) breathes light and l’Empordà lifestyle. Walking through its interior spaces is like exploring the creative imagination and savoir faire of its prestigious French designer. Going outdoors to the garden is to enjoy life itself, a rural Mediterranean paradise. Want the good news? You can rent it if you want. Keep reading… we’ll give you more details at the end.
Serge Castella is an architect interior designer, antiques dealer and decorator, he’s also in love with the colour white. After just setting one foot in Casa Riera we can confirm how it saturates the walls and the ceilings, and how it provides a blank canvas where the pieces used to decorate and furnish the house are showcased.
LESS IS MORE
He’s also famous for his cosy interiors, with well selected minimal furniture; that combines crafted elements and art works in such a way to lift the spirits. Is there a place for colour? Of course, reds, browns, and greys… add a dynamism and energy in different corners and spaces around the house.
“My aim is to create welcoming homes, a place for people to be happy, somewhere where you can have your dogs close, where you can move around unobstructed, leave a glass down, enjoy good views, good light…”
Serge Castella
Hanging vegetable leather lamps COURO and braided esparto armchairs TURQUETA by Let’s Pause.
A JOURNEY TO THE ESSENCE OF THE PLACE
Casa Riera is located in the small village of Rupià, within l’Empordà, a Catalan region which Serge adores, where he feels at home, to such an extent that he made it his home some years ago. The building structure is a stone masía in a traditional architecture style, typical of the area, with a rustic feel that has been largely respected while also adding a sophisticated refurbished make-over.
The colour palette, the materials, the natural fibres, the fabrics and the textures are all native to the place. Because, as the designer himself points out, every corner of the earth has its own colours, its own tones and ambience that deserve holding onto. And, what we want to experience by staying in Casa Riera, is the laid back and relaxed way of life that l’Empordà inspires and its relationship with the Mediterranean Sea.
SIMPLE SOFISTICATION
Contemplating the sum of the different spaces, it all seems like a very simple idea, but all you have to do is look a little closer to see the exquisite design pieces from prestigious producers, works of art, ceramic and artisanal elements that take their inspiration from the beauty of nature and the handmade.
“Nowadays, luxury is the enjoyment of products created by someone with a first and last name, with heart and age-old techniques.”
Serge Castella
NATURAL LUXURY IN THE BEDROOMS
With his characteristic precision Serge created a sculpture corner using one of our handmade lamps authored by the designer Ceci Ferrero: three Couro Leaf lamps from Let’s Pause, suspended from the ceiling at different heights, adding an organic and elegant touch to one of the bedrooms.
Their natural American palm leaves, chocolate in colour and aged leather-like texture, create a cozy play of light and shade after dark.
MEDITERRANEAN OUTDOOR PARADISE
And finally, the outdoor areas invite you to lose yourself in time: casa Riera includes 1,200 sq.m. of gardens, with lush local vegetation planted with cypress trees, maple, heather, shrubbery and olive trees.
Then there’s the terrace with its contemporary design furniture, perfect for having breakfast, lunch or dining under the stars. And for the area around the pool the loungers create an inviting chill out zone to enjoy at any time of the day or night.
If you too have fallen in love — like we have — with this marvel of Mediterranean living, take note: you can rent the house through the Viu Empordà page.
And remember, when you visit don’t forget to run your hand over our COURO 8 leaf lamps and see for yourself how smooth to the touch they are.
Pure raw pleasure!
Continue exploring the versatility of our creations in the Projects section of our website.