A Quartet of Contemporary Living
These villa designs were developed upon a local developer's request for small-scale residential houses. Spanning 300 - 450 Sqm. across two levels, the villa balances expansive, open-plan living spaces on the ground floor with intimate private quarters above. A discreetly positioned 60-square-meter service block accommodates essential back-of-house functions.
Characterized by clean lines, geometric forms, and a serene design aesthetic, they embody a minimalist modern approach, while landscaping provides a soft counterpoint to the villa's starkness, fostering a harmonious integration with the site. The three villas feature segregated entrances for efficient service and enhanced visitor access, and are zoned to prioritize privacy and functionality. Their expansive north-facing glazing ensure consistent, diffused natural illumination, minimizing glare and providing soft, even light distribution.
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The White Box
The white facades, expansive glazing, and symmetrical composition establish a sense of tranquility and order within the architectural form. The ground floor plans feature a clear spatial organization: primary living zones are oriented to engage with the landscape within the main volume, while service and utility functions are positioned within a separate volume, optimizing functionality and privacy. The second floor is dedicated to private bedroom suites, establishing a distinct programmatic separation of living and sleeping zones and prioritizing resident privacy.
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The Courtyard Villa
Inspired by the Moroccan Riad, a traditional dwelling form oriented around a central courtyard, this villa presents a contemporary interpretation of timeless design principles. The villa is zoned to promote privacy and functionality, with distinct areas for private bedrooms in the left and right wings, and a central living area. The courtyard typology emphasizes symmetry and axiality, creating an inward-focused outdoor space that blurs the indoor-outdoor boundary. The U-shaped layout ensures direct access to natural light and outdoor views for all private rooms, making the space feel expansive and harmonious.
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The Floating Box
The "floating box" aesthetic is a hallmark of modern and minimalist architecture, conveying a sense of simplicity, elegance, and precision. The contrast between the solid upper volume and the transparent base creates a visual lightness. The building appears to defy gravity, adding a sense of drama and sophistication. The extensive glazing on the ground floor blurs the boundaries between interior and exterior spaces, creating a strong connection to the landscape.
Climate Response
The white facade, which serves to reflect sunlight, minimizing the amount of solar energy absorbed by the building's exterior and preventing excessive facade heating and heat transfer into the interior spaces. The north-oriented glass facade complements this by limiting direct sunlight and reducing solar heat gain. Double glazing enhances thermal insulation, and high-performance glazing with low-E coatings further improves energy efficiency by reducing heat transfer. Cross ventilation, is achieved through strategically placed windows and openings on opposite facades, frequently in conjunction with thick walls.
Budget Consideration
The use of a simple rectangular plan form streamlines construction processes, and simplifies structural systems. Efficient spatial planning, enhanced by open floor layouts that reduce partitions, further enhances cost-effectiveness. Passive cooling prioritized through climate-responsive design which reduce future running costs.
This holistic approach culminates in a villa design that is cost-effective, visually compelling, and functionally efficient, demonstrating the successful integration of budget considerations with modern architectural elegant.
