In the heart of Sardinian Mediterranean maquis, in Porto Rafael, Westway Architects presents Villa VPR, a transformative intervention that has successfully translated the constraints of an existing building into a design opportunity capable of generating meaning, emotion, and a sense of belonging. The project addresses an unfinished structure dating back to 2010, which was integrated rather than demolished to preserve the building rights.
The design breakthrough arose from discovering, after clearing the abandoned lot, an extraordinary natural landscape and the possibility of opening visual glimpses toward the sea. From here, the idea was born to conceive an architecture that would not impose itself but would gently rest on the ground, following its folds, reinterpreting the concept of “non-place” into a space rich in sensory and visual discoveries.
Villa VPR unfolds through a fluid sequence of harmonious geometries, capable of establishing a profound dialogue with the site. The forms are conceived as waves of a vast imaginary ocean, enveloping and unifying the structures in a perceptual continuum. The exterior is marked by curved, solid walls that simultaneously protect and frame views of strong emotional impact, transforming the living experience into a visual narration of the landscape.
The project thus becomes an act of reconciliation between nature and construction, where the theme of dwelling merges with that of walking, observing, and losing oneself. Not a villa-object, but a spatial device that redefines the relationship between architecture and context with rigor, lyricism, and precise planning.
Founded in Rome in 2005 by Luca Aureggi, Maurizio Condoluci, and Laura Franceschini, Westway Architects stands out for an approach based on listening to the place and a deep attention to detail. The studio works across residential, industrial, landscape, and public sectors, both in Italy and internationally, with projects in Ethiopia and numerous interventions on protected buildings. Combining discipline and research, the studio is among the leading voices of the new generation of Italian architecture.
For more information: www.westway.it
CREDITS
Project: VPR – Private Villa Porto Rafael
Architects: Westway Architects
Location: Porto Rafael (SS), Italy
Year: 2021
Photographs: Cedric Dasesson
