Positioned on one of the highest and steepest lots in the area, Villa Boë provides a scenic and serene getaway from the stress of daily life. This unique terrain largely influenced the design—a vertical stacking of functions was necessary to work with the steep face of the hill—and the result became an architectural work of art.
The home itself has several levels. On the lowest, the garage and main entrance are tucked into the contour of the hillside. Just up a short flight of stairs, the structure opens up with huge panoramic windows, bringing soft light through to the kitchen, living and dining areas. The top two floors house bedrooms and other private areas, providing ample separation from the busy living areas while still receiving the same landscape views. The top floor hosts a circular yoga and contemplation platform—the true center of contemplation and meditation.
Though the building itself needed to be vertically suitable for the hill it rests on, the design team did not wish for the structure’s shape to feel rigid. Instead, they designed a radial curvature that was able to be stacked in a way that resembled layered terraces. “Rather than trying to make the building disappear, we focused on how it could speak a clear but humble language—one that acknowledges the vastness of the site while remaining grounded and composed.”
This relationship to the surrounding landscape is central to the flow of the home interior and exterior. The pool, for example, isn’t just an added feature, but instead is meant to be part of what transitions the indoors to the outdoor areas. Its calm, still surface reflects the views from a new angle, assuring that the rolling green hills can be seen from any perspective.
A material palette of teak wood for ceilings and soffits, off-white walls and white Palimanan stone flooring draws the mind toward the resources’ native origins, while also maintaining the relaxing-getaway atmosphere.
The design of Villa Boë was about creating a structure that could be artistically expressive, while not taking away the focus from the nature that surrounds it. “Every gesture had to be deliberate—not to shout, but to sit with confidence and calm.”
See more at https://alexisdornier.com/project/villa-boe/!
