The western shore of Lake Garda is characterised by its mild
climate and richly cultivated landscape. David Chipperfield
Architects has built two villas on the hillside looking over
the resort town of Gardone Riviera. Both buildings are carefully
inserted into the landscape with its olive groves and
cypress trees. Their volumes are divided into individual one or two storey
structures, which are offset to one another following the topography of
the hillside.
The typology of the villas interprets the architecture of the limonaias,
which were built for the cultivation of lemons and are historically typical
for the area. These buildings characterized the western shore of Lake Garda
with their pergola-like structures up until the end of the 19th century.
With reference to the limonaias, the building volumes are each framed by
three solid exterior walls made of natural stone masonry and built up on
a plinth of the same material. The main elevation facing the valley opens
up towards the Mediterranean landscape with room-height windows.
Pergolas with slim columns are placed in front of the volumes, echoing
the rhythm of the surrounding olive groves. The pergolas provide protection
from the sun and extend the interior into a protected outdoor space,
which leads to further terraces with outdoor pools.
The materials are influenced by the region. The stone for the masonry and
terraces comes from local quarries. The light roof structure of the pergolas
and the window frames are crafted from wood, providing a contrast to the stone.
The inner organisation of the buildings further reflects the
surroundings. While the auxiliary rooms are located in the rear areas, the
living and bedrooms are situated at the front, providing panoramic vistas
of the lake and the surrounding landscape. The two buildings were constructed
in the context of a larger project, encompassing seven villas, a
hotel and an apartment building designed by four architectural practices.
