African Design Magazine October 2016 | Page 50

African project Villa Z – Morocco Photographs: Doublespace Photogra an updated moroccan style This striking structure 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 centres on the opacity of the main façade, combining the principles of traditional architecture with a strong contemporary identity. M ohamed Amine Siana designed Villa Z for a tight urban plot measuring just 15 square metres. The building faces west to optimise its exposure to the evening sun, however, this orientation also means that the villa looks directly onto a large avenue. Siana explains that the brief was only one sentence; “To have an open feeling in a protected house from the sights of the neighbourhood. So it was a challenge between this need for privacy from the client and my belief in an open and light architecture.” 50 The Villa Z is a product of very strict city regulations, ones that ultimately confined the building into a 15m distance in a tight square. “My principal intention was to go out from the cube perception to answer the client’s program and routine and to find the best way to preserve privacy and protect the home from the noise of the prominent front avenue,” says Siana. africandesignmagazine.com