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Villa SHAH
Villa SHAH
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Other Projects by Architecture Office BIONIQUE
Villa SHAH
Type
STATUS
Concept
SIZE
5000 sqft - 10,000 sqft
BUDGET
$1M - 5M
The plot is located on the very edge of the Avala National Park. It is surrounded by dense coniferous forest, with trees reaching heights of up to 30 meters. Within the plot itself, there are areas covered with trees as well as zones completely without vegetation—the central and southern parts of the site. Along the access road, there is a zone with the highest concentration of trees.
The terrain is very steep, with elevation differences reaching up to 15 meters over a horizontal distance of 40 meters. The southeastern part of the plot is the highest point, from where the land descends sharply toward the west.
The shape of the plot is such that the eastern and southern boundaries effectively form the legs of a right triangle, connected by the northwestern boundary, which takes the form of a rounded diagonal.
After analyzing the terrain, the position of existing trees, and the sun’s path throughout the year, we identified zones best suited for the main functional elements (the house, the pool, and the terraces). Our aim was to position the building in a way that preserves the maximum number of trees while ensuring that the house—especially the pool and its surrounding deck—receives as much direct sunlight as possible.
With this approach, we determined the precise location of the terrace and pool, around which the building was subsequently “developed.” A large portion of the building volume is placed along the eastern boundary of the plot, following the natural slope of the terrain. This strategy allows every room to enjoy high-quality views toward the city (to the west), framed just below the canopies of the existing trees.
It became clear that the entrance should be located at the highest point of the access road, so that the owners would not need to cover long distances from the garage to the central part of the house, either horizontally or vertically. The building is also shifted toward the north—toward this access point on the plot—in order to keep as much of the southern part of the garden open while seeking optimal daylight.
Due to the tall trees surrounding the site, sunlight reaches the plot mostly from directly above, as the vegetation blocks it in the early morning and at dusk. The morning eastern sun filters through the tree canopies and partially illuminates the bedrooms on the upper floor, while during the summer months the last low western rays pass through the trees and reach the pool deck. Our intention was to integrate the villa sensitively into the dense greenery, without compromising or disturbing it through architectural intervention.
The core concept was to design the house—inevitably a multi-storey structure—in such a way that its form follows and takes advantage of the existing terrain configuration, leaning into it and emerging from it. Another key objective was to ensure a high level of comfort, enjoyment of living in nature, and a strong sense of connection to the landscape, by allowing each floor to have direct access to the ground level, without the use of staircases or ramps.
When viewed from the northwest, the house has three visible levels; from the east, two; and from the south, only one level, where it effectively emerges directly from the terrain. In the areas where three storeys are visible, the design strategy was to horizontally decompose the building mass into several segments. To achieve this, the basement level was conceived in concrete, covered with greenery, embedded into the ground, and visually dematerialized. The façade of the middle level—the ground floor, which accommodates the primary living spaces—is clad in natural wood, of the same species as the surrounding trees. The top floor is finished with fiber-cement panels.
The overall color palette of the building is directly inspired by its natural surroundings. The lowest level, executed in tinted (darker) concrete, symbolizes the ground, stone, and soil, as well as the lower portions of the surrounding trees, which appear in dark grey-brown tones. The middle level reflects the hues found in the mid-sections of the tree trunks, characterized by creamy and warm orange tones. The panels of the top floor are finished in an olive-green color, echoing the tree canopies.
The seamless integration of the building into its landscape and terrain is achieved through: materiality, the horizontal shifting of floor levels, the use of shadow, and the incorporation of greenery.
Sun Zone – “Zone S” represents the only area of the site that receives direct sunlight throughout the entire day, which is why the swimming pool and its surrounding terrace are located here. In addition to wanting the pool to be fully sunlit, the clients also requested that it be usable during the colder months. This requirement led to the integration of a pool enclosure system that can be fully retracted into the building during the summer period. The system consists of telescopic sliding segments that nest into one another when opened.
To ensure a direct, thermally comfortable connection between the house and the pool during winter, the pool is partially recessed into the building volume. Above the pool, a circular opening is introduced to provide additional zenithal daylight to this covered space.
A distinctive feature of the pool is an underwater window that visually connects the pool basin with the spa area. This element allows natural light to penetrate the lower level and creates a unique play of light and water reflections within the basement spaces.
Surrounding the pool is a terrace that accommodates an outdoor dining area along with a compact kitchen, bar, barbecue, and a dedicated zone with a toilet and shower. Adjacent to the terrace, stepped seating is integrated directly into the terrain. These tiers are finished with natural wood, greenery, and low ornamental plants. The stepped landscape functions as an extension of the garden, offering a versatile outdoor space for sitting, lounging, sunbathing, meditating, and quiet relaxation.
The roof above the pool is designed as a green roof and serves as a comfortable terrace for the master bedroom—an extension of the natural terrain, where the grassy surface is quite literally drawn over the building. This area includes a dedicated chill-out zone with sun loungers and seating, allowing for direct contact with the natural ground and the surrounding landscape.
Access to the ground floor from the street is provided via an entrance staircase running alongside the garage wall. Along the staircase, a narrow strip of cascading greenery unfolds on one side, while the opposite side is defined by a reinforced concrete wall with a recessed niche for a metal handrail.
The entrance to the villa is sheltered by a cantilevered projection of the upper floor, which not only accentuates the entry but also provides protection from rain and snow. This cantilevered overhang follows the natural slope of the terrain, further enhancing the impression of the upper floor part floating above the ground.
A cascading stepping of the building’s floor levels was employed to provide additional daylight to the terrace and to further integrate the volume into the terrain. The terrace wraps around the building on the western side, extending in front of all first-floor bedrooms as well as the ground-floor living area. All terrace railings are made of transparent glass, ensuring unobstructed views of the surroundings. From these spaces, the views open toward the greenery and the city beyond.
The basement level accommodates the garage, workshop, laundry room, storage, and technical room, which are positioned and embedded into the eastern side of the plot. On the western, fully exposed façade, the gym, spa area, and an additional bedroom with its own bathroom are located. A staircase leads up to the central zone of the ground floor. On this level, the entrance hall opens to a guest toilet on the left and an entrance wardrobe on the right, while straight ahead are the kitchen, dining area, living room, a guest bedroom, and the staircase leading to the upper floor, which contains one bedroom and one master bedroom.
From the paved pool plateau, a concrete staircase descending toward the lower grassy terrace is designed as a composition of monolithic concrete blocks. By being offset in height and width, these blocks cascade downward, creating a dynamic and sculptural sequence.
We are very pleased that, in close synergy with the clients, we succeeded in developing a villa project that fully adapts to the steep terrain configuration and dense forest environment, preserving the existing trees and making use of naturally sunlit zones. The resulting architectural form—defined by the cascading displacement of floor levels and a carefully considered material palette—allows the building to visually and spatially merge with the landscape. At the same time, the functional organization and orientation of the spaces ensure optimal views, daylight conditions, and a strong, continuous connection between interior spaces, exterior areas, and nature throughout the year.
The terrain is very steep, with elevation differences reaching up to 15 meters over a horizontal distance of 40 meters. The southeastern part of the plot is the highest point, from where the land descends sharply toward the west.
The shape of the plot is such that the eastern and southern boundaries effectively form the legs of a right triangle, connected by the northwestern boundary, which takes the form of a rounded diagonal.
After analyzing the terrain, the position of existing trees, and the sun’s path throughout the year, we identified zones best suited for the main functional elements (the house, the pool, and the terraces). Our aim was to position the building in a way that preserves the maximum number of trees while ensuring that the house—especially the pool and its surrounding deck—receives as much direct sunlight as possible.
With this approach, we determined the precise location of the terrace and pool, around which the building was subsequently “developed.” A large portion of the building volume is placed along the eastern boundary of the plot, following the natural slope of the terrain. This strategy allows every room to enjoy high-quality views toward the city (to the west), framed just below the canopies of the existing trees.
It became clear that the entrance should be located at the highest point of the access road, so that the owners would not need to cover long distances from the garage to the central part of the house, either horizontally or vertically. The building is also shifted toward the north—toward this access point on the plot—in order to keep as much of the southern part of the garden open while seeking optimal daylight.
Due to the tall trees surrounding the site, sunlight reaches the plot mostly from directly above, as the vegetation blocks it in the early morning and at dusk. The morning eastern sun filters through the tree canopies and partially illuminates the bedrooms on the upper floor, while during the summer months the last low western rays pass through the trees and reach the pool deck. Our intention was to integrate the villa sensitively into the dense greenery, without compromising or disturbing it through architectural intervention.
The core concept was to design the house—inevitably a multi-storey structure—in such a way that its form follows and takes advantage of the existing terrain configuration, leaning into it and emerging from it. Another key objective was to ensure a high level of comfort, enjoyment of living in nature, and a strong sense of connection to the landscape, by allowing each floor to have direct access to the ground level, without the use of staircases or ramps.
When viewed from the northwest, the house has three visible levels; from the east, two; and from the south, only one level, where it effectively emerges directly from the terrain. In the areas where three storeys are visible, the design strategy was to horizontally decompose the building mass into several segments. To achieve this, the basement level was conceived in concrete, covered with greenery, embedded into the ground, and visually dematerialized. The façade of the middle level—the ground floor, which accommodates the primary living spaces—is clad in natural wood, of the same species as the surrounding trees. The top floor is finished with fiber-cement panels.
The overall color palette of the building is directly inspired by its natural surroundings. The lowest level, executed in tinted (darker) concrete, symbolizes the ground, stone, and soil, as well as the lower portions of the surrounding trees, which appear in dark grey-brown tones. The middle level reflects the hues found in the mid-sections of the tree trunks, characterized by creamy and warm orange tones. The panels of the top floor are finished in an olive-green color, echoing the tree canopies.
The seamless integration of the building into its landscape and terrain is achieved through: materiality, the horizontal shifting of floor levels, the use of shadow, and the incorporation of greenery.
Sun Zone – “Zone S” represents the only area of the site that receives direct sunlight throughout the entire day, which is why the swimming pool and its surrounding terrace are located here. In addition to wanting the pool to be fully sunlit, the clients also requested that it be usable during the colder months. This requirement led to the integration of a pool enclosure system that can be fully retracted into the building during the summer period. The system consists of telescopic sliding segments that nest into one another when opened.
To ensure a direct, thermally comfortable connection between the house and the pool during winter, the pool is partially recessed into the building volume. Above the pool, a circular opening is introduced to provide additional zenithal daylight to this covered space.
A distinctive feature of the pool is an underwater window that visually connects the pool basin with the spa area. This element allows natural light to penetrate the lower level and creates a unique play of light and water reflections within the basement spaces.
Surrounding the pool is a terrace that accommodates an outdoor dining area along with a compact kitchen, bar, barbecue, and a dedicated zone with a toilet and shower. Adjacent to the terrace, stepped seating is integrated directly into the terrain. These tiers are finished with natural wood, greenery, and low ornamental plants. The stepped landscape functions as an extension of the garden, offering a versatile outdoor space for sitting, lounging, sunbathing, meditating, and quiet relaxation.
The roof above the pool is designed as a green roof and serves as a comfortable terrace for the master bedroom—an extension of the natural terrain, where the grassy surface is quite literally drawn over the building. This area includes a dedicated chill-out zone with sun loungers and seating, allowing for direct contact with the natural ground and the surrounding landscape.
Access to the ground floor from the street is provided via an entrance staircase running alongside the garage wall. Along the staircase, a narrow strip of cascading greenery unfolds on one side, while the opposite side is defined by a reinforced concrete wall with a recessed niche for a metal handrail.
The entrance to the villa is sheltered by a cantilevered projection of the upper floor, which not only accentuates the entry but also provides protection from rain and snow. This cantilevered overhang follows the natural slope of the terrain, further enhancing the impression of the upper floor part floating above the ground.
A cascading stepping of the building’s floor levels was employed to provide additional daylight to the terrace and to further integrate the volume into the terrain. The terrace wraps around the building on the western side, extending in front of all first-floor bedrooms as well as the ground-floor living area. All terrace railings are made of transparent glass, ensuring unobstructed views of the surroundings. From these spaces, the views open toward the greenery and the city beyond.
The basement level accommodates the garage, workshop, laundry room, storage, and technical room, which are positioned and embedded into the eastern side of the plot. On the western, fully exposed façade, the gym, spa area, and an additional bedroom with its own bathroom are located. A staircase leads up to the central zone of the ground floor. On this level, the entrance hall opens to a guest toilet on the left and an entrance wardrobe on the right, while straight ahead are the kitchen, dining area, living room, a guest bedroom, and the staircase leading to the upper floor, which contains one bedroom and one master bedroom.
From the paved pool plateau, a concrete staircase descending toward the lower grassy terrace is designed as a composition of monolithic concrete blocks. By being offset in height and width, these blocks cascade downward, creating a dynamic and sculptural sequence.
We are very pleased that, in close synergy with the clients, we succeeded in developing a villa project that fully adapts to the steep terrain configuration and dense forest environment, preserving the existing trees and making use of naturally sunlit zones. The resulting architectural form—defined by the cascading displacement of floor levels and a carefully considered material palette—allows the building to visually and spatially merge with the landscape. At the same time, the functional organization and orientation of the spaces ensure optimal views, daylight conditions, and a strong, continuous connection between interior spaces, exterior areas, and nature throughout the year.
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