In a quiet residential neighborhood of Geneva (Switzerland) Italian architect Jacopo Mascheroni (JM Architecture) has recently designed a single-family villa characterised by a composition of black and white thin frames that articulates the solid and voids of the two levels above ground, while a series of white sunken patios bring air and natural light to the basement level.
The frames, each corresponding to a specific interior space, are cladded in black gres tiles and white aluminum panels on a ventilated façade system; in addition, with no air conditioning system, the façade design was developed to avoid the sun rays entering the indoor spaces during the warm season.
The building includes a living area and kitchen with terrace on the ground floor, bedrooms and suites with terrace on the upper level while at basement level each space is connected to a private sunken patio cladded in white aluminum panels and surrounded by clear glass parapets, in order to maximize the amount of natural light below; the patios, all different in size and program, are accessed through the same sliding glass doors also installed on the two levels above ground.
While the patio belonging to the swimming pool area integrates a Jacuzzi tub and a macro-bonsai inserted between rocks, the study room patio features a pond with a fountain integrated in the vegetation.
A Corian-cladded staircase connects the three levels and receives plenty of natural light from a large skylight above and from the large windows on the North façade; on the upper level, all bathrooms receive natural light from either skylights or windows, and the foyer facing North is screened with vertical louvers in order to provide privacy.
All millwork, doors, vanities and kitchens are custom designed, combining white lacquer mdf and a selection of different marbles, and finally the villa reaches the highest standards of energy efficiency, thanks to the solar panels installed on the flat roof and a large rain water collection tank which is buried in the garden and it serves the garden irrigation system.
