Saunders Architecture Designs Villa AT Creating a Fluid Form Echoing the Waves Below

 

Villa AT‘s fluid form of the main house was in response to the topography and the weather patterns, and the need to frame the views out across the water. The building is nestled into the rocks, with stone steps leading down to the fresh water swimming pool and pool terrace, which sit within a natural cleft in the landscape. Its curving forms gives the house an almost marine quality, echoing the waves of the sea below.

Architizer chatted with Todd Saunders, Owner of Saunders Architecture, to learn more about this project.

Architizer: What inspired the initial concept for your design?

Todd Saunders: One of the initial driving factors was the client wanted a one storey home with a simple design as well as a semi-separate annex for their parents. Villa AT is not only tailored to the needs of the occupants but also to the site itself. The site was a very windy site so we wanted to create a building with various outdoor spaces and terraces that would be protected from the weather. There was this slab of rock in the landscape that you can shelter behind if the wind came up and that helped us to position the house so that it offered shelter but also connects with the view.

This project won in the 10th Annual A+Awards! What do you believe are the standout components that made your project win?

Villa AT is a very simple and grounded house. Many houses have a lot of bells and whistles and are screaming for attention. This house has a quietness yet elegancy behind it. It’s confident yet not loud.

What was the greatest design challenge you faced during the project, and how did you navigate it?

The initial generation of ideas using typical computer architecture wasn’t working. Todd spent a weekend alone in the studio and drew by hand, then made a rough physical model – more like an artist than an architect. The challenge was to get away from using typical computer programs and it worked out really well.

What drove the selection of materials used in the project?

The typical material palette in Norway is very simple – almost like the food in Norway. It may seem simple at first, but you can have a lot of complex detailing. Inorganic material that hits the landscape. We used 3 basic materials in line with the simplicity of architecture in Scandinavia. We used a high-grade wood in the colour white, like many homes in the area, and stone foundation as the base.

What is your favorite detail in the project and why?

There are many great details in this building, but my favorite is the exterior stone stairs. Secondly, the fireplace. We worked together with designer, Hannes Wingate, using cladding and stone. Also, the Danish skylights in ceiling brings additional sunlight, ensuring the space as a whole feels bright and inviting.

How important was sustainability as a design criteria as you worked on this project? 

Sustainability is always a high priority in our design and respect of the site is the main element of sustainability. In the case of Villa AT, there was no destruction of natural landscape. We worked with the natural landscape and the home looks like it pops out of nature.

In what ways did you collaborate with others, and were there any team members or skills that were essential in bringing this Award winning project to life?

For all good projects – you need a great client, really good builder and a really good architect. In this situation we had four pillars of the project with collaboration from designer Hannes Wingate as well and all four were aligned perfectly. Everyone respected each other and wanted to make a really great project.

How have your clients responded to the finished project?

Every time we talk with them, they indicate how much more comfortable and enjoyable life has become. There are many ‘little’ things they love about this house, for instance, walking to their master bedroom and having a view to the ocean and having their parents close by in the annex building. There was very close collaboration with the client – every detail was discussed.

What key lesson did you learn in the process of conceiving the project?

That our values and principles are appreciated by clients and when they are put into action you can make a really great piece of architecture. It’s a matter of refining your values and integrity over time and sticking with them. The better architecture we make, the better clients you attract.

How do you believe this project represents you or your firm as a whole?

Personally, and as a company, we are big fans of the basic elements of architecture. They are more than enough to create great architecture. You don’t have to over design or over detail anything for it to be a good piece. You have to have a strong main idea and patience to follow it through. You need a client that believes in you and an architect that believes in the client.

How has being the recipient of an A+Award evoked positive responses from others?

For us personally, this is one of the most valuable awards you can get, and we really appreciate it. We find that architecture is a tough yet rewarding profession. Receiving this award gives us an extra boost and it keeps us pursuing higher level architecture.

How do you imagine this project influencing your work in the future?

The process is what influenced us. The most fulfilling process we’ve ever had with a house. It was a matter of taking our time, asking very open ended questions and being able to listen. Creating an open forum where anyone (builder, client, interior architect) felt comfortable voicing opinions. We built up psychological safety in discussion and will continue to evolve in this process. Villa AT was, by far, one of the most pleasant experiences I’ve ever had while designing a house.

Is there anything else important you’d like to share about this project?

At this point in my career, I wasn’t so sure I wanted to keep doing houses but in the process of writing the book “New Northern Houses” we interviewed 13 clients, including Villa AT, and that showed us that we are pretty good at designing houses and it gave us the confidence that this is what we should keep doing. The process of asking open-ended questions during the making of this house sparked another book project, Share, where I interviewed 30 architects in the Nordic countries. From this, I’ve learned how to ask a good question and how to listen for a good answer.

Team Members

Architects – Todd Saunders with Attila Béres, Márk Szőke, Joshua Kievenaar, and Joseph Kellner

Consultants

Interior Designer Hannes Wingate + Matt Morrison, Interior carpenter Stig Drange, Structural Engineer Konstruksjonsteknikk AS, Erling Olsen. Builders Byggm, Øyvind Bakkevold AS, Construction Supervisor Øyvind Bakkevold

For more on Villa AT, please visit the in-depth project page on Architizer.

Villa AT Gallery