Villa H
BackProject type
Single Family House, Villa
Status
Construction phase
Location
Casablanca, Marocco
Time
Ongoing
Client
confidential
The villa for a family of four seeks to create an extraordinary connection between local narratives and the contemporary architectural language of the avant-garde. Located on a challenging plot of land on a steep slope in the Anfa villa district of Casablanca, the spacious, four-story residential building features a clear geometric design and makes ideal use of its location to offer views of the nearby ocean.
The new building is accessed at its highest topographical point. Ten steps higher is the elongated main living area. This houses an oasis-like garden, protected from the entrance area and introverted, with a phenomenal panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean on the opposite side. The memory of a place of longing in the interior of the country, combined with the culturally rich coastline that characterizes Morocco, is reflected here.
The open-plan main living area is reminiscent of Morocco's sand dune landscapes, which are created in nature by gentle erosion movements and here reflect natural movements in the space and rituals of living together. Several spacious seating areas, set into the undulating dunes with a fireplace, a library, and a bar, extend across the entire depth of the building.
This communal area is enclosed at both ends by two pools: a sheltered smaller pool connected to a hidden seating area, where family tranquility and intimacy are the focus, and an infinity pool on the green terrace with views of the surrounding area and the sea. The main room also provides access to the most important levels, where family life and encounters with guests take place.
The four-story structure is a clear, geometric block that makes optimal use of the topography. It is pushed into the slope in such a way as to create many spectacular views. The central living space is positioned to offer panoramic sea views from as many vantage points as possible.
The horizon line of the sea is visually continued in the interior design and extended across the entire floor in the form of a horizontal joint. While the living space is inspired by a dune landscape, the floor above seems to float like a cloud in the sky. Within the clear exterior shape, the main level also appears like a trace or grain in a monolith, winding softly and undulating through the building as if shaped by natural forces. The villa thus becomes a harmonious combination or “grafting” of clear form and organic design language.
During the design process, the shape of the building was determined by analyzing the sun's path to determine where and when the strongest sunlight would hit the interior spaces. Large overhangs and slats were strategically positioned to provide optimal shade without obstructing the view.
The many water features and greenery in the interior and exterior areas also contribute to further cooling. The upper parts of the exterior façade are clad in high-quality white marble, while the base, panelled with travertine, also creates a connection to the interior.
Soft shapes with tadelakt surfaces complement the fine stone atmosphere of the travertine here. The slat-like perforated sun protection and the wood and copper used in the interior areas tie in with Moroccan building traditions. When illuminated selectively, they evoke the fairy-tale qualities of Moroccan riads.
Project partners
Lars Krückeberg, Wolfram Putz, Thomas Willemeit, Sven Fuchs, Georg Schmidthals
Project lead
Paula Rosch
Design lead
Zsolt Gondos
Team
Andrei-Friederich Atanasoaie, Mathilde Dewavrin, Tatiana Lebedeva, Bojan Zdravkovic
Related Projects
Villa M
Project typeSingle Family House, Villa
StatusCompleted
LocationBerlin, Germany
Time2017
WAVE
Project typeNew construction of two residential buildings
StatusCompleted
LocationBerlin, Germany
Time2016–2019
Villa A
Project typeVilla, Single Family House
StatusConstruction phase
LocationTuscany, Italy
TimeOngoing
