Nestled within a steep hillside, the masterplan became an exploration of how constraints shape and inform design. By embracing these challenges, we developed guiding principles that celebrated the site’s character, transforming limitations into opportunities for thoughtful and inventive architecture.
The steep slope of the site rendered much of the land unbuildable, while the narrow 40-meter plot width posed additional complexity. The client’s vision of three villas within this constrained space was an invitation to rethink and reimagine. Rather than resisting these limitations, we welcomed them as the heartbeat of our process. Constraints are where design begins; a blank canvas offers little, but boundaries ignite creativity.
I always feel like a good design comes from constraints. If you give me a blank canvas to design on, I feel lost. Its only when I have certain constraints to keep in mind, the design process begins.
Our approach turned restriction into inspiration. Each villa was designed as a linear structure, thoughtfully responding to the 30-meter plot width. Partially grounded within the forest floor, the villas extend outward as floating forms, evoking the imagery of fireflies glowing in the night. The central entrance area was subtly pinched to carve out a courtyard, allowing for a deck that bridges the built form and its verdant surroundings. The result is a design that honors the terrain, integrating architecture and landscape into a harmonious whole.
One evening in Assagao, perched on a hill beside the forest, I experienced the magic of fireflies—one by one, they gathered until the forest was alight with their glow. That moment stayed with me, a reminder of how memories and dreams quietly shape our creativity, weaving themselves into the fabric of our work. These villas embody that philosophy, drawing on the beauty of the site and the quiet inspiration of its natural rhythms.
This exploration allowed for a deeper understanding of how constraints can drive innovation and influence the formation of a coherent and purposeful design approach, resonating with a larger learning of mine - to let the limitations and difficulties in my life be celebrated as they are what created me into this version of me that exists today. This project was a journey of discovery—of how constraints guide innovation, how nature inspires design, and how limitations, when embraced, can become the foundation for something meaningful and extraordinary.
The materiality of the design aimed to highlight the contrast between the lush greens of the surroundings and the monochromatic black and white palette of the built form. Soft white walls served as a backdrop, complemented by a dark grey terrazzo flooring, were carefully selected to provide a neutral foundation for the greens in the surrounding.
To infuse the interiors with warmth and vibrancy, upholstery was selected with care, adding subtle touches of color. Lighting and furniture design drew inspiration from modernist ideals, combining bold forms and clean lines. The result is an architecture that feels striking yet harmonious, with exteriors blending into the forestscape and interiors exuding a fresh, light atmosphere.
