Villa Amertani

For 30 years a rubber farmer would come to the crest of a small ridge to eat his lunch, drawn by the constant breeze that kept it cool and the feeling of energy it gave him. Today, this place is Villa Amertani.
The first visual impression of Villa Amertani is its sinuous roof, echoing the undulating lines of the surrounding hills. Approached from the west, it seems hidden, embedded in the hillside. This side of the house has expansive views of distant mountains. Enter, however and you are presented with a stretch of magical forest on the other side, just a few metres distant. Teakwood balconies on two levels bring you yet closer to the tree line, while this side of the house drops dramatically with the gradient of the ridge, supported by tall, roughly hewn wood pillars.

The main living and entertaining area is clad in timber with exposed roof and floor-to-ceiling glass on both sides creating a kind of portal connecting the two very different settings. The horizon pool runs the entire length of the house, reflecting the trees that surround it, just as the glass reflects the sky and the mountains on the horizon. Villa Amertani is clad in white stone, whose neutral, reflective aspect creates a constant play of shadows and subtle colours as the sun passes through its daily cycle.