British architect David Chipperfield is renowned for his use of columns in cultural projects, having designed numerous contemporary museums and galleries inspired by the classical compositions of Greek and Roman architecture. Now, he has utilized the rhythmic qualities of these structural elements in the private residential sector, completing a pair of luxury villas on the banks of the picturesque Lake Garda in northern Italy.
Villa Eden’s setting is as idyllic as its name suggests — looking out on Italy’s largest lake, the two villas are surrounded by luscious planting, their waterfront elevations defined by a series of shading canopies supported by Chipperfield’s signature square columns. These elegant pergolas are inspired by Italian “limonaie” – structures traditionally used by local farmers to cultivate lemons that the region is famous for. The slender columns also echo the vertical rhythms of the Mediterranean countryside, with olive groves and cypress trees surrounding the site.
Chipperfield’s villas incorporate private lap pools, each of which are framed by refined slabs of stone sourced from local quarries. This vernacular material is utilized throughout the design with different treatments helping to define each element: smooth surfaces demarcate the edges of each flat roof and the colonnade of columns, while more natural textured stone walls link the buildings back to the countryside that they extend out from.
Each villa’s door frames and the slim louvers of the pergolas are crafted from warm timber, another material sourced from the local region. Inside, the auxiliary rooms are situated at the back of the layout, with the living spaces and bedrooms at the front fitted with floor-to-ceiling glazing to take advantage of the wonderful scenic panoramas to the east.
The two residences were constructed as part of the large Villa Eden Gardone development, which comprises seven private homes nestled on the lake shore — other architects to have contributed residences here include Richard Meier and Matteo Thun.