Double Space Photography

The Sculptural ‘Villa Z’ in Morocco by Mohamed Amine Siana Architects

Located in Casablanca, Morocco, Villa Z designed by Mohamed Amine Siana Architects is a 650 sqm home with a peculiar form that celebrates introversion and discretion while being expressive in its style and  scuptural in its presentation.

The Villa Z is a product of very strict city regulations, ones that ultimately confined the building to a 15m distance in a tight square. The principal intention was to go out from the type cube form to answer to the client program and routine and find the best way to preserve privacy and protect the project from the noise of the prominent front avenue.

“I want to have an open feeling into a protected house from the sights of neighborhood”. It was this one sentence, that formed the bulk of the brief for the project and put forth the challenge between the need for privacy from the client and the architect’s belief in an open and a light architecture. The project draws its inspiration from Moroccan cultural roots, while opening up to new horizons. The intention was – working closely with the client’s lifestyle in mind – to build a house with discretion and introversion. The design centers on the opacity of the main facade, combining the principles of traditional architecture with a strong contemporary identity.

The architecture is based on ecological and passive solutions to maintain the best climate possible inside. From the first step it was important to avoid the square, while the circular form of the skylight was the best solution and a harmonious way to accentuate the curves of the project. The other openings in the ceilings are lightings circles with carved wood panels used like skins to mark the different important spaces of the house.

DRAWINGS COURTESY ARCHDAILY

Based on intimacy, orientations and on the basis of a cube, our work is done on the opening of such plans cube leaves and sculpture, providing fully veiled openings from the outside by planes games which direct them to good prospects on the outside while avoiding vis-à-vis and within the appropriate guidelines and sunshine as well as protecting openings from view.

In the city of Casablanca, traditional modernism has been the norm in recent years, it was a laboratory for some brilliant architects and this Villa does well to not poke anyone in the eye while in the same breath maintaining a characteristic distinct plausibility to its integrity as a modern artefact in the city of Casablanca.

The project is an experience which attempts to develop practical-spaces for the new way of Morrocan life, a cultural dilemma between privacy and the contemporary “open” way of life.

Subscribe
Subscribe to stay updated on featured projects, design news and insights across Africa.

I have read and agree to the privacy policy

THE DESIGN LIST