ARCHIDOMO featured in the summer issue of ALTUS HOME MAGAZINE
We are delighted to share ARCHIDOMO’s feature in the summer issue of ALTUS HOME MAGAZINE.
This edition highlights our approach to architecture and interior design, through our vision of a bespoke project, thoughtfully conceived in dialogue with its surroundings and driven by a constant search for balance between contemporary lines, materials, and craftsmanship.
A wonderful opportunity to share our creative universe through the pages of ALTUS HOME MAGAZINE.
On the shores of Lake Geneva, this 1,000 m²-plus residence rises to the challenge of both grandeur and disappearance — an ultimate paradox. Embedded into the slope, this contemporary home reinterprets the forms of a 1960s villa to blend seamlessly into the landscape. The lake’s calm waters inspired a fluid, mineral interior, centred around iconic pieces and precious materials.
Villa Elektra is a well-kept secret. From the access road, high up on the site, the silhouette of the house remains hidden from view. Only a series of planted flat roofs, with carefully studied geometric lines, emerge subtly from the ground. Building here was indeed a matter of balance and discretion, preserving the neighbours’ views while ensuring the house was fully integrated into its surroundings.
BOLD ARCHITECTURE
Structured like an architectural palimpsest, the project was designed by ARCHIDOMO, the architecture firm based in Talloires, on the walls of the original 1960s villa. By introducing a new timber post-and-beam structure supported by masonry walls, the architects completely reconfigured the existing architecture.
The property is accessed from the rear, via a courtyard leading to a vast underground garage, preceded by a carport that extends the natural contours of the site. The solid, protective rear façade is clad in textured stone, echoing the surrounding mountains. Punctuated by a few narrow windows, it contrasts with the generously glazed entrance. On the opposite side, the façade facing Lake Geneva adopts a radically different approach. Fully open to the panoramic lake views, it unfolds through immense glazed openings.
A double timber beam structure lightens the connection with the roofs while allowing for spectacular ceiling heights. The horizontal lines, highlighted by quartz zinc, visually stretch the building along its length, creating a seamless continuity between the interior, the expansive terraces and the infinity pool, which appears to flow directly into the lake.
PRECIOUS MATERIALS
From the entrance, a monumental black lacquered volume immediately captures the eye, framing a work of art by Marco Grassi while cleverly concealing the dressing room and lift. The transition into the reception area is marked by a suspended monolithic fireplace clad in Mutina’s Phenomenon collection, a textured mini-ceramic designed by Tokujin Yoshioka.
It is a perfect example of the exceptional attention devoted to the selection of materials throughout the villa. The original supporting wall, onto which the staircase is anchored, has been clad in Déchirer XL black ceramic by Patricia Urquiola for Mutina. The relief of these tiles is echoed in the mini-mosaic from the same collection, applied to the column and bar counter to create visual continuity.
Set within the projecting volume overlooking the lake, the living room benefits from generous ceiling heights. Facing the floor-to-ceiling windows that transform Lake Geneva into a constantly changing living picture, the vast Connery sofa by Minotti takes centre stage in a refined setting, complemented by Hilow pendant lights by Panzeri. On the opposite side of the sculptural fireplace, the dining room embraces the same understated elegance, allowing the magnificent Minotti dining table and matching sideboard to take centre stage. The marble surfaces are a perfect expression of the mineral character that runs like a common thread throughout the house.
In the formal kitchen by Boffi, the central island is clad in black marble veined with brown and beige. Even the powder room takes on the character of an elegant cave, with a Gris du Marais stone finish by Salvatori. The pared-back atmosphere allows the bronze of the oversized mirror, casually placed on the floor, to stand out.
The sleeping quarters continue this pursuit of individuality. Each of the four guest bedrooms has its own distinctive decorative identity, as does the master suite, a true belvedere overlooking the lake. It is separated from the bathroom by sliding glass partitions by ADL. Their metal framework creates a moucharabieh-like effect, echoing the chevron pattern of Salvatori’s Pietra d’Avola stone.