Ville Couëlle in Costa Smeralda to Become First Museum After Confiscation
The Ville Couëlle complex, an icon of organic architecture on the Costa Smeralda designed by French visionary Jacques Couëlle, has been officially transferred to the municipality of Arzachena by Italy's National Agency for seized and confiscated assets. The decree enables the creation of the Costa Smeralda's first museum. Valued at €37 million, the 30,000-square-meter site in Abbiadori includes multiple buildings and agricultural land. The redevelopment will feature exhibition spaces, conference halls, event areas, educational workshops, a bookshop, and a café. The project aims to connect the modern history of the Costa Smeralda with the area's rich archaeological heritage, including Giants' Tombs and nuragic complexes. Couëlle's sculptural, nature-mimicking style, influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright and Gaudí, used local stone, Sardinian granite, raw wood, and white plaster with mosaic glass inserts and irregular windows. The transformation marks a shift from a symbol of exclusivity to a public cultural asset.
Key facts
- Ville Couëlle was designed by French architect Jacques Couëlle.
- The complex was confiscated from organized crime and assigned to the municipality of Arzachena.
- The transfer was formalized by a decree from the National Agency for seized and confiscated assets.
- The property is valued at €37 million and spans 30,000 square meters in Abbiadori.
- Plans include exhibition spaces, conference halls, event areas, educational workshops, a bookshop, and a café.
- The museum will link Costa Smeralda's modern history with local archaeological sites like Giants' Tombs and nuragic complexes.
- Couëlle's organic architecture uses local stone, Sardinian granite, raw wood, white plaster, mosaic glass, and irregular windows.
- The project repurposes a former criminal asset into a public cultural institution.
Entities
Artists
- Jacques Couëlle
- Frank Lloyd Wright
- Antoni Gaudí
Institutions
- Comune di Arzachena
- Agenzia Nazionale per i beni sequestrati e confiscati alla criminalità organizzata
- Artribune
Locations
- Costa Smeralda
- Sardinia
- Italy
- Arzachena
- Abbiadori