Marni's Consuelo Castiglioni: Inside Her Formentera Escape

In a 2004 Vogue feature, Consuelo Castiglioni, co-founder of the fashion house Marni, revealed the design philosophy behind her family's summer home on the island of Formentera, Spain. The house, built in 1996, reflects her and her husband Gianni's 'hippie chic' aesthetic, which also defines Marni's collections. The couple, who met at Forte dei Marmi in Tuscany, sought an open, light-filled structure that contrasts with the island's traditional dark fincas. Inspired by a trip to Yemen, they incorporated an adobe-like staircase and used materials from their global travels, including Moroccan carpets, Turkish rugs, and a Bedouin tent from Kuwait. The builders initially resisted their request for deliberately 'mal hecho' (poorly made) finishes but eventually embraced the style. The property offers views of Es Vedrà, a rock formation near Ibiza. Consuelo, Swiss-born, and Gianni, whose family's fur business supplies houses like Fendi and Prada, have infused the home with items from Zanzibar, Bali, and India. Their children, Carolina and Giovanni, also contribute to the eclectic decor. The article, written by Hamish Bowles, was part of Vogue's archive series.