Ala Villa

This modern house is based on the essence of a home in the Islamic world, combining traditional understandings with modern aesthetics whilst centralizing geographic context and sustainability. 

Designed around a central courtyard, which may take the form of an outdoor room, walled garden, or datum, the home is grounded within themes of privacy and expansiveness. These, along with various areas featuring extendable screens and louvres, facilitate the creation of a versatile and adaptable microclimate in the home, hence meeting the nuanced needs of any family. 

The home is punctuated with reminders of water, which repeat three times on the ground floor, serving as reservoirs for natural cooling, as well as signifiers of life force and abundance. A more subtle detail can be observed in the kitchen, which features a stepped double-height family dinette which embodies traditional floor dining through a raised deck.