Villa M
2018
Category: Built
New development of family villa - Liguria, Italy
Villa M is a family building of ca.150sqm situated in the hills of the Ligurian Riviera. The building is composed as an L shape on a single floor with a courtyard in the center. The volume responds to the surrounding landscape focusing on the main view and sunlight. The existing site was defined by a terraced environment which was maintained in the new project without touching the existing walls and avoiding excavation. The building is situated in a residential environment distinguished by a typology of mansions, nevertheless, the villa responds and preserves the natural scenery of the coastline and its facade is inspired by with the typical dry stone walls of the Ligurian terraces.
The entrance of the building leads onto the fully glazed internal courtyard which is the center of the building. It opens on one side to the spacious open plan living. Generous sliding doors extend the kitchen dining area onto the courtyard which functions as a filter zone between inside and outside terrace. A future outside kitchen and timber fins to the roof transform the courtyard into the perfect location for outside dining. The space is sheltered from the sun and wind and offers breathtaking views over the sea and pool.
The sun terrace to the front of the living is orientated towards South-West catches the evening sun and offers a comfortable space for an afternoon lounge. Views onto the sea are framed by the large infinity pool and palm trees on the terrace.
To the other side of the villa is the more private sleeping area with five essential double bedrooms and individual outside spaces for each room facing the sea. All bedrooms have ensuite bathrooms which are naturally illuminated and ventilated by large openable skylights. The Villa is designed as a holiday retreat and can host up to 10 people and incorporates a small pantry/laundry, technical service room, external storage and a carport with 2 parking spaces.
The conjunction with the nature offering impressive views over the sea and the exposition towards the sun were key elements for the design and the arrangement of the spaces.
While the villa is situated within an urban context, the green roof minimizes the visual impact of the building. The villa is surrounded by Mediterranean essences and the permeability of the terrain is maximized by using a combination of gravel and stone surfaces. Natural sources and materials with local craftsmanship were used to define an environmentally sustainable design.
The facade is composed by natural stone retrieved from site and large artisan timber elements and sliding shutters which combine beauty and function. The sliding shutters allow you to transform the entire glazed facade while controlling the solar passive gain of the building.
Large floor to ceiling high openings with high thermal performance maximize views and natural light emphasizing the transition from inside to outside. The hidden window frames are embedded into the floor and ceiling, as well as into the external timber cladding and internal lining.
In the living room, the large bay window of four and a half meters which continues on each side for another one and a half meters becomes one of the most significant points of the house. The great transparency emphasizes the diverse scenery of the nature. In the evening external lighting accentuates the materiality of the stone and timber walls creating a sensational atmosphere. Key elements of the project are distinguished, highlighting the courtyard lounge and the pool.
The interior is defined by a simple timeless design combining high quality pure materials and details, as natural oak timber ceilings, with natural stone floors and gypsum plaster.
The arrangement of the bespoke kitchen, bar and library alternates with the large openings and emphasizes them as a standalone item. The warm timber ceiling boards are in harmony with the white interior, contemporary timber furniture, black features and the light stone floor.
The design of the bedrooms is essential, built in furniture and doors are white in white. The focus lies on the openings, which are full height and as wide as the rooms, offering a breathtaking view onto the sea. Each rooms benefits from direct access to the sun terrace and pool.
A light natural stone runs throughout the entire house and is used also for the outside terraces. The same stone occurs in the ensuite bathrooms. Natural light from the skylight brings the monolithic bathroom to shine.
The highly insulated concrete shelf, the thermal mass, the green roof with the efficient control of solar light and the use of renewable energy only reduces significantly any thermal disparity and the consumption footprint of the building while obtaining a superior house comfort and air quality.
Awards
Shortlisted: Kitchen Design Special Contest_The Plan 2019
