case study for villa

Case Study: 4015 House by Observation Studio

Where is the line between too much and not enough on a home remodel? It’s a question almost every architect ...

Case Study: Fishtown Residence by Rasmussen/Su

Almost always, location is the horse leading the cart in residential architecture. The clients typically have a notion of where ...

Parti Shot: Nob Hill Residence by A Parallel Architecture

The client for A Parallel Architecture’s Nob Hill Residence in Dallas, Texas, has a “history of choosing exciting lots,” says ...

ARCHITECTURAL INTERIORS

Case Study: Wallingford by Prentiss + Balance + Wickline

Although the Seattle family with three young children loved life on the water in their lake house, they longed to…

Case Study: Tribeca Penthouse by Min Design

The penthouse apartment in the converted 1874 warehouse in New York had soaring ceiling heights, an abundance of daylight, and…

Case Study: Two Gables by Wheeler Kearns

The aptly named Two Gables residence in Glencoe, Illinois, might appear premeditated, but its symmetrical form emerged organically to serve…

Case Study: Tudor Redux by Cohen & Hacker Architects

The 1913 Tudor Revival would need more than gallons of white paint to turn it into a welcoming, light-filled home…

RURAL / SECOND HOMES

Case Study: Slide-By House by Estes Twombly + Titrington

Situated on the edge of Massachusetts near the border with Rhode Island, the eponymously named Westport was the westernmost port…

Case Study: Concord Blend by Eck MacNeely Architects

Before they lived in their current residence—whose design was meticulously orchestrated by Eck MacNeely Architects—the owners had lived in a…

Case Study: The Narrows by Whitten Architects

Like many retirees, Whitten Architects’ clients came to Downeast Maine looking for an escape from their full-time life near Boston,…

Case Study: Vermont Farmhouse by ART Architects

If anyone knows how to design the quintessential New England farmhouse, it’s the Boston-based firm of Albert, Righter & Tittmann…

Where is the line between too much and not enough on a home remodel? It’s a question almost every architect…

Almost always, location is the horse leading the cart in residential architecture. The clients typically have a notion of where…

Case Study: OFFbeat by Nick Deaver Jes Deaver Architecture

Vultures and at least one fox were living in this storybook house in Austin’s Travis Heights neighborhood when Jes and…

Case Study: Waverly Place by VJAA

Just before the new Walker Art Center opened in Minneapolis in 1971, Louise Walker McCannel, the granddaughter of founder Thomas…

ON THE BOARDS

The client for A Parallel Architecture’s Nob Hill Residence in Dallas, Texas, has a “history of choosing exciting lots,” says…

Parti Shot: High Meadow Ranch by Richard Beard Architects

Richard Beard Architects has designed many wonderful houses on extraordinary sites, but this 47-acre parcel in California’s 20,000-acre Santa Lucia…

Parti Shot: Silver Cloud by Studio B

Slicing across a rocky ridge where two valleys converge, Silver Cloud accommodates a young family and its many passions and…

Parti Shot: Stacked Moor by Flavin Architects

Most homeowners feel they could benefit from just a little more space. In an older house, that need for space…

Custom Doors Open Incredible Possibilities

A grand entrance to a home. A point of passage through an interior. A secure bulwark. A custom door is…

Sponsored Case Study: Simple Comfort in an Oregon Home

When architect Nahoko Ueda set out to design a family home in the rolling terrain outside Salem, Oregon, her goals…

Sponsored Case Study: A Private Lake Side Retreat in Texas

When you first see the 2,600sq ft lake house in Riverside, Texas, it looks like a glass box floating on…

Sponsored Case Study: Echo Hills Residence by Robert Gurney

Architect Robert Gurney leverages a site’s steeply sloped terrain to transform a suburban Maryland home into a tranquil oasis that takes its cues from nature.

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Villa: The Latest Architecture and News

A refuge in the harsh alpine landscape: three connected villas that embrace nature.

Located in the municipality of Leogang in the Salzburgerland province, Austria, the Priesteregg Premium Eco Resort resides on a plateau at a height of 1100 meters. Opened in 2009, the resort comprises 15 chalets and three villas, and is surrounded by lush mountain pines, Alpine roses, and bilberry bushes. This setting offers relaxation and breathtaking views of the Leogang Steinberg Mountains, the Steinernes Meer with the Hochkönig, and Kitzbühl Schieferalpen.

The resort's development has been influenced by traditional agricultural land use, leading to a conservationist approach. This includes sustainable energy concepts, support for regional producers, and the use of natural materials in the entire resort. In the three villas, the W2 Manufaktur studio and architect Ulrich Stöckl have curated interiors that blend rustic Alpine style with modern luxury, featuring products from Dornbracht . Each villa uniquely combines natural materials, natural features, and a variety of the brand's fittings and fixtures.

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A Hospital in Belgium and an Airport in NEOM: 8 Unbuilt Structures That Feature Organic Shapes Submitted by the ArchDaily Community

In constantly changing industry of architectural design, the rebirth of organic shapes stands as a testament to the power of design. “ Following years of linear, clean-cut, and refined spaces, curved silhouettes were revived, became one of the dominating interior design trends across the world .” Aiming to redefine the boundaries of physical spaces and conventional forms, these curves are often times inspired by nature. In fact, organic architecture symbolizes a departure from the static, reflecting the essence of our technological age.

This curated selection of the Best Unbuilt Architecture highlights projects submitted by the ArchDaily community that demonstrate the use of organic shapes in various forms of architecture and program use. Many times, organic architecture stands as a testament to what we are able to make in 2024, innovating in structural and material technology. From Vincent Callebaut’s HospiWood to Zomorrodi & Associates’ Cadence Art Center, these instances showcase this shift in desigin thinking. Whether its a residential villa in the United States or a resort centered around a curved pool in the Netherlands , organic architecture has been trending globally.

A Caravan House in Greece and an Ecological Oasis in Mexico: 9 Unbuilt Residences Designed Around Nature Submitted by the ArchDaily Community

As the world becomes increasingly urbanized , the relationship between nature and design has taken on a renewed significance. Residential design projects that intertwine with natural elements are shown to encourage a sense of tranquility in the inhabitants and the surrounding environment. Moreover, the integration of greenery, specifically through gardens, flourishing landscapes, or complete forest and hillside integrations, can be a powerful testament to the coexistence of human habitation and the natural world.

It is well known that exposure to more green spaces and cleaner air has profound impacts on human health and psychology . This kind of exposure has been linked to reduced stress, improved cognitive function, and enhanced creativity. These sanctuaries offer relief, allowing the human to reconnect with the natural world. These residential homes are often a refuge from busy city life, ranging from vacation homes to retirement homes. Moreover, as the global call for sustainable practices becomes more pressing, the role of natural elements in architecture becomes imperative.

Buenos Aires, Urban “Informality” in Historical Terms

"History of the villas in the city of Buenos Aires . From the origins to the present day" is the book by Valeria Snitcofsky that reconstructs the historical background of the villas in the city of Buenos Aires based on research that began in 2003 and whose advances were expressed in a bachelor's and a doctoral thesis. It is framed within the objective of the Tejido Urbano Foundation, which is focused on promoting research and the generation of knowledge on the problems of habitat and housing.

A Cliff House in Bali and a Waterfront Estate in Greece: 9 Unbuilt Villas Submitted to ArchDaily

This week’s curated selection of Best Unbuilt Architecture highlights private villas submitted by the ArchDaily community. From a Mediterranean retreat in Greece to a one-person residence in Iran , this round up of unbuilt projects showcases how architects design private villas that combine contextuality and functionality in structures that promote comfort, privacy, and connection to nature. The article includes projects from Indonesia , Greece, Iran, and Jordan.

MetaMundo’s 3D NFT Villa Opens Questions about the Function of Architecture in the Metaverse

MetaMundo has launched its second three-dimensional NFT, an ocean-adjacent villa , complete with an NFT gallery, meditation pavilions, and entertaining areas. The structure was designed by American architect and hybrid-creative Luis Fernandez to become an immersive space for meeting, playing, and relaxing. Through this project, the architect aims to explore the changing paradigm of building in the metaverse. As laws of physics become irrelevant and materials are reduced to surface images, he asks the question what will architecture mean for the metaverse, how will we experience it and how will we use it?

Ricardo Bofill Designed a Villa Inspired by a Classical Temple in Algarve, Portugal

In January 2022, the world of architecture lost one of its greatest influences of modern times, the Catalan architect Ricardo Bofill. However, just two months before his departure, Bofill left us with a new vision: an independent villa inspired by a classical temple that sits on a single plot within the Palmares Ocean Living & Golf complex. Today, a new opportunity presents itself to bring one of his final designs to life.

A Coastal Villa in Santorini and a Shelter in the Forests of Thailand: 9 Unbuilt Houses Submitted to ArchDaily

This week’s curated selection of Best Unbuilt Architecture highlights private residential projects submitted by the ArchDaily community. From a residential quarter comprising eight urban villas, to private getaways in the suburbs of Hyderabad, India , this round up of unbuilt projects showcases how architects design private spaces that combine locality and functionality in structures that cater to the residents’ lifestyles and behaviors. The article also includes projects from Iran , the United States , Thailand , and Greece.

A Floating Home in Canada and a Private Villa in Egypt: 8 Unbuilt Houses Submitted to ArchDaily

Although the design diversity of private homes often relies on how each project responds to the topography, context, and material availability, the most significant factor of residential architecture is users and what they require in terms of spatial needs and preferences. This user-centric approach has long been practiced, Mies van der Rohe once explained that "the architect must get to know the people who will live in the planned house . From their needs, the rest inevitably follows".

This week’s curated selection of Best Unbuilt Architecture highlights private residential projects submitted by the ArchDaily community. From a private family house nestled in the forests of Russia to a reinvention of Colombia's traditional courtyard typology, this round up of unbuilt projects showcases how architects design private spaces that combine nature, functionality, privacy, and locality. The article also includes projects from Kosovo , Spain , United States , and Serbia.

Is Sustainability the New Luxury? In Conversation with Andrea Boschetti on Karl Lagerfeld Villas in Marbella

During the past couple of years, luxury and fashion brands began venturing into architecture. Some built museums, foundations, and cultural organizations while others shaped residential structures that translated their identity into space. Following this same concept, KARL LAGERFELD, along with Spanish Developer Sierra Blanca Estates and the Design and Branding Firm The One Atelier , have developed the fashion house’s first “luxury architectural project”, the Karl Lagerfeld Villas in Marbella , Spain . Designed by The One Atelier, of which Andrea Boschetti is Head of Design, the project has low carbon impact, aligned with the brand’s commitment to the Fashion Pact - a global sustainability initiative that seeks to transform the fashion industry through objectives in climate, biodiversity, and ocean protection.

Asking what is “luxury architecture” and questioning why fashion brands are expanding into architecture, ArchDaily met with Andrea Boschetti to further understand the architect and urban planner’s take on the subject.

A Circular Summer Retreat and a Native-Tree Inspired Bungalow: 11 Unbuilt Villas Submitted to ArchDaily

This week’s curated selection of Best Unbuilt Architecture highlights private residential projects submitted by the ArchDaily community. From futuristic private retreats on the coast of Hawaii to a mini-housing concept on the rocky cliffs of Montenegro, this article explores residential architecture and presents projects submitted to us from all over the world.

Featuring a secluded private residence that sits between a Persian mountain and river, an interior renovation of an 80's Mediterranean house, and a minimalist forest retreat, this round-up explores the diversity of private homes and how each design responds to its site's topography, context, and to the occupants spatial needs. The selection also includes villas in Lebanon , Iran , Tanzania , Netherlands , Ivory Coast , Kosovo , and Vietnam .

A Luxurious Condominium in Cambodia and 3D Printed Micro Homes in the United States: 9 Unbuilt Projects Submitted to Archdaily

Housing is one of the core functions of architecture, circumscribing numerous typologies and encompassing a variety of issues. This week’s curated selection of Best Unbuilt Architecture highlights different forms of housing submitted by the ArchDaily Community . From urban developments to micro homes, from a deep connection with the landscape to high-end technologies, this article explores the topic of residential architecture, presenting different approaches from around the world.

Featuring a strategy to refurbish the typical urban block of Barcelona to accommodate senior housing, a net-zero energy tower in Italy and a poetics-infused villa in Greece , the round-up spans a multitude of scales and housing scenarios. In addition, a concept for 3D printed micro-homes addresses the housing shortage, while an urban development in India recuperates the values of traditional villages. The following projects reveal various ideas surrounding residential architecture in its numerous forms.

A Nest for Stargazing and a Hidden Hillside House: 9 Unbuilt Projects Submitted to ArchDaily

This week’s curated selection of Best Unbuilt Architecture highlights private residential projects submitted by the ArchDaily Community . From cabins in woods to oceanfront villas, this article explores private residential retreats and presents projects submitted to us from all over the world.

Featuring a house nestled in the Swiss forests, a private LA hillside house, and a hidden family house in the Lebanese mountains, this roundup explores how architects have merged landscape and contemporary architecture, and tucked away private residences, giving them the privacy and serenity they need. This round up also includes a collection of houses in Armenia, Mexico , Kenya , and El Salvador, each responding to different contexts, spatial needs, and topographies.

The Tragedies of Chateau Laurens Captured by Romain Veillon

Situated on the Mediterranean port of Agde, France, the eclectic Laurens castle holds a history as rich as its architecture. Emmanuel Laurens, owner and architect of the villa, gathered inspiration from countries all over the world to create his masterpiece. Photographer Romain Veillon visited the castle ahead of its renovation and captured the architectural collages present inside it.

Sheltered Villas in Greece and Floating Terraces in India: 10 Unbuilt Projects Submitted by our Readers

Houses and Villas are the most researched topics on ArchDaily. Putting together a curated selection of conceptual interventions, this week’s Best Unbuilt Architecture focuses on the residential sector. From all over the world, this group presents proposals submitted by our readers.

This article highlights a floating terraces project from India , a lodge in Ethiopia , a seasonal home for an Iranian family in Germany , and a residential compound in Saudi Arabia . Beach houses in Greece , Croatia , and the U.S. are also featured, showcasing different approaches for the same program. Moreover, more futuristic interventions include the Mountain House on the rocky cliffs of British Columbia, and the blue house , an aquarium-like type of home.

House in “La Place” / Deschenaux Follonier

• Architects: Deschenaux Follonier
• Area Area of this architecture project Area:  190 m²
• Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2019
• Professionals: VBI Fribourg Sàrl

A Vertical Neighborhood in Tehran and a Zero Emission House on the Beach: 9 Unbuilt Projects Submitted by our Readers

This week’s curated selection of best unbuilt architecture features conceptual residential projects submitted by our readers from all around the world. Highlighting innovative designs, approaches, and compositions, this roundup puts together a series of inspiring interventions that offer a fresh look on the typical house structure.

In the following article, ArchDaily has gathered ideas from Poland , France , Hungary , Iran , and the United States . Grouped under one common theme, the feature includes a new take on the typical building complex, an attempt to shorten the transitional gap between a house and an apartment, and a collection of modular residential models that can be implemented anywhere. Moreover, it also showcases Christophe Benichou’s latest intervention, “The Pleated House” located in the Hautes Alpes in France, a hyper-sustainable house on the beach and a structure completely erased and integrated into the natural landscape.

UNStudio Designs Gyeongdo Island, a new Sustainable Leisure Destination in South Korea

UNStudio has recently designed the masterplan for Gyeongdo Island , a new sustainable leisure destination in South Korea . Driven by nature, the 470,000 m2 buildings and public spaces are centered on the qualities of a green environment.

Villa Mairea by Aino Aalto and Alvar Aalto: The Iconic House

When words like iconic and experiment come together we know the revelation would be a structure admired as a historical landmark by the world. Today we speak in detail about the enigmatic Villa Mairea by Aino Aalto and Alvar Aalto , a structure that brings with it an ode to inspiring design, cultural heritage , and social and political importance in its era.

Villa Mairea was built in 1939 in Noormarkku , Finland by architect Alvar Aalto and his first wife and partner Aino Aalto as a modern residence for Maire and Harry Gullichsen , ardent enthusiasts and connoisseurs of art. The Aaltos were the first in Finland to look at the design of a structure through the eyes of an artist and give it more credit than its constructive capacity. They viewed the project as a work of art with architecture as its foundation. 

The owners were well-known industrialist patrons who accorded Aino Aalto the freedom to experiment with the design, its thought process, conceptualization, and context. The site for this historical residence resembles a blank canvas on which Aino and Alvar Aalto explored a free range of design. 

The choreography of this significant dwelling is distinguished by tempo and the gradual unfolding of a relaxed domestic atmosphere. With a collage of materials settled amidst the Finnish landscape , Villa Mairea stands firm as an architectural encounter that marks a transition from traditional to modern architecture .

The Conception of An Ideology | Villa Mairea

Aino Aalto, with partner Alvar Aalto, first proposed a rustic-themed dwelling inspired by Nordic vernacular architecture. As the design progressed, it resembles inspiration to Frank Llyod Wright ‘s Fallingwater with the final structure being an amalgam of themes and ideas that transformed the space into a holistic and cohesive design.

This experiential house is not defined only by aesthetics but also by its contribution through innovation in the field of architecture itself. The Finnish architects with the design of this residence fused numerous influences in a remarkably coherent yet unexpected whole. 

The Villa observes a shift between functionalism into an organic modernist style of architecture with a fusion of Finnish and Japanese cultures and architectural styles reflected through the different spaces and elements making the structure. The design has its origins from these architectural styles , both of which seek to connect nature to man-made structures in a way that approaches self-expression and the use of organic resources that connect the building to the environment around it.

The dwelling with an innate cultural significance is celebrated due to its connection to a specific place, its local economy, and its traditions while at the same time globally intertwining with its ideas, forms, and technical innovations. 

Following the cultures that inspired the design, Aino Aalto put forth ideologies in construction that collaborated the independent structure with links to emotional connections and spatial interactions with nature, traits that remain dominant in both Finnish and Japanese styles of architecture.

The Details Make The Design

The plan of Villa Mairea is a modified L-shaped floor plan, common in Scandinavian architecture, and is infused in other designs created by Aino and Alvar Aalto. As an individual approaches the property, it leads them down a nature trail with spaces that symbolize human freedom, nestled within the depth of its coherent context, a structure that is an incarnation of everything that forms a contrast in the modern world. 

The open living room is planned around a rectilinear structural grid with circular steel columns placed randomly to create spatial boundaries within the house. They are placed strategically in an order that gives the space a sense of transparency, subsequently mimicking the verticality of the trees seen in the background of the house through the windows.

A semi-private enclosure burrows a private garden and swimming pool, representing a canopy-styled garden that faces the public facade. The influence of Fallingwater is evident through the cantilevered balconies and a basement, redesigned with a serpentine wall sunk to appear as a substitution for the natural forms of stream and rocks. 

Another unique characteristic of the structure is the use of richly articulated materials throughout the design. The interiors of the Villa are in accented wood, stone, and brick. The planning is an assemblage of private rooms and bedrooms that open onto a large play space with a flat roof over the dining area that extends to form a covered terrace. 

A diagonal relationship was established between the private study and the ‘winter garden’ and the main staircase with the open sunlit part of the living room. These immediately draw attention when seen from behind the vertical poles which screen the stairs.

The Spirit Of Semblance | Villa Mairea

With the design of Villa Mairea, Aino Aalto and Alvar Aalto not only created an artistic dwelling for their clients but also a socially, politically, and culturally significant structure that brought about a movement in its respective era. The Villa evoked memories of association with Finnish farms, medieval churches , functionalist architecture, and the Japanese Edo period. 

At the time, the atmosphere of Finland was a clash between the utopia of the last century and the old peasant tradition. The country was on a track to changing tides from an agricultural and craft society to a more modernized and urbanized industrial state. Modernism was adopted in Finland with a great level of ease and in this radical atmosphere of diversity, the construction of the Villa brought with it a convergence of regionalism and universalism.

With an approach much too oblique, coursing through a winding gravel drive at the edge of the forest, Villa Mairea reveals itself in glimpses standing strong over the years amongst tall pine trees. Today, amid the 21st century, the Villa by Aino and Alvar Aalto holds an enduring social presence throughout the world as a turning point on the path to modernism in Europe. It is a cultural hotspot for tourists that symbolizes great artistry through architecture, and locals see it as an awe-inspiring memorial dedicated to an evolutionary era.  

The calming effect of the leisurely approach with the subtle awakening of the senses unveils the magnificent Villa Mairea, an inseparable presence in the forest since 1939.

References 

Sveiven, M. (2010). AD Classics: Villa Mairea / Alvar Aalto . [online] ArchDaily. Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/85390/ad-classics-villa-mairea-alvar-aalto.

Devanshi Shah (2018). Iconic House: Villa Mairea in Noormarkku, Finland by Aino and Alvar Aalto . [online] Architectural Digest India. Available at: https://www.architecturaldigest.in/content/iconic-house-villa-mairea-finland-aalto/.

ArchEyes. (2016). Villa Mairea in Finland by Alvar Aalto . [online] Available at: https://archeyes.com/villa-mairea-alvar-aalto/.

Anon, (n.d.). Villa Mairea – Villa Mairea . [online] Available at: https://villamairea.fi/en/villa-mairea/ [Accessed 21 Aug. 2021].

UKEssays.com. (n.d.). Villa Mairea: The Cultures Behind a Humanized Design . [online] Available at: https://www.ukessays.com/essays/architecture/villa-mairea-the-cultures-behind-a-humanized-design.php.

Erudition Magazine. (n.d.). Alvar Aalto’s Villa Mairea: The Paradox of Universalism and Regionalism . [online] Available at: https://www.eruditionmag.com/home/alvar-aaltos-villa-mairea-the-paradox-of-universalism-and-regionalism [Accessed 21 Aug. 2021].

Ishani is an architect and a published author. She is passionate about writing and has been a part of the social sector for two years, helping underprivileged children through the power of design via interactive playgrounds. Reading books and hosting workshops are among a few of her hobbies.

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