Villa Eden


The west bank of Lake Garda is characterized by its mild climate and richly cultivated landscape, and these two villas sit on the hillside overlooking the 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-story structures, and offset 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 of the area. These buildings characterized the western bank of Lake Garda with their pergola-like structures up until the end of the 19th century. With this reference, 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 against the sun and extend the interior into a protected outdoor space.