Whitespace Architects have been shortlisted for Residential Architectural Property Award in The International Design and Architecture Awards 2021.

Whitespace Architects were commissioned to develop a single floor residential villa for a private owner, with consideration given to the surrounding desert area and sand dunes. The 800sqm villa has been designed as the primary residence for the family, and offers spaces to entertain, ample storage and a connection to the outdoors, all across one level.

The Desert Villa creates a harmonious flow between the outdoors and indoors. Relying on straight clean lines and volumes, the architecture connects outdoor spaces with the internal spaces allowing the two to function seamlessly as one. Whitespace Architects does this through the introduction of the courtyard, giving the appearance of being one space by blending the boundary. This courtyard wraps around the property and alongside the use of multiple skylights, the structure of the villa itself feels open to the sky. The villa has an infinity edge pool that flows with the borders of the structure, and the presence of a water feature inside the house brings the visual movement and auditory impact of this most vital element into the living space. The living area and gym are levelled with the pool to create the sense of space continuation, and the glass windows that separate the spaces are fully retractable so that the inner and outer spaces can merge.

Use of simple and elegant forms facilitate both the creation of adaptive spaces with demonstrable flexibility in use, and reinforce the great care taken to forge continuation with the surrounding landscape. This has been achieved, for example, by providing a recessed lounge outdoors, carved into the floor, mimicking the movement of the dunes extending beyond the property. Conscious selection of materials makes it possible for the aesthetics of the exterior not to contradict with the surrounding desert site, and the sandy colours of the travertine create a seamless visual continuity. The Villa has an operable wall around to ensure privacy while allowing for the connection between desert and villa and sustaining natural lighting. Whitespace Architects had positioned the villa so that when approaching it, the geometric volume is perceivable from far while passing near the sand dunes long before the entrance and parking is reached.

Whitespace Architects

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