Central America Private Residence | BIG | Bjarke Ingels Group

This single-family home in South America, is centered around an Olympic-sized pool spanning 50 meters diagonally across the site. The architectural expression of the villa - a simple volume in concrete, glass and wood - is informed by the refined elegance of Danish architecture. On one hand modest and understated, on the other driven by a strong passion for fitness and swimming - the villa genuinely captures the spirit of the homeowner.

The only way to fit the pool on the site was to stretch it diagonally, dividing the plot into two triangular parcels: one for the house and one for the garden. With the pool reaching from corner-to-corner, the building is stretched around it to maximize exposure and views. The shape is further defined by the need to preserve two mature palm trees already inhabiting the lot. The irregular form creates an inverted pyramid outlined by the pool, with the triangular base of the home rising to a rectangular roof.

To maximize privacy, the villa is designed with closed walls towards the street and surrounding neighbors, with glazing towards the back for enhanced daylight and views of the garden and nearby gorge.

A single straight staircase runs through the center of the house and divides the interiors in half, connecting all spaces from the garden to the attic. This allows the two top stories to be split into staggered plains with varied ceiling heights. One side of the staircase has three generous floors while the other side has four floors for guest bedrooms and services.

The building volume, made of concrete cast in situ, features rectangular window walls set back on each floor to create a series of cascading exterior gardens, extending the house out into the sun on all levels.

The kitchen, two guest rooms and staff quarters are all concentrated within an oak- clad volume inside the house, allowing the three floors to function as one continuous room, with the master suite up top.

In addition to the black granite pool, the home also includes a private CrossFit gym, voga studio, spa, wine cellar, tasting room and basement garage that cars can access via a lift. A thin steel drawbridge can rotate across the pool to bridge between the house and the garden.

PARTNER IN CHARGE

Bjarke Ingels

Beat Schenk

Thomas Christoffersen

DESIGN LEAD

Martin Voelkle

PROJECT TEAM

Cristian Lera Silva

Doug Stechschulte

Hector Garcia-Castrillo

Jan Leenknegt

Kenneth Amoah

Marcella Martinez

Maya Shopova

Nicholas Coffee

Terrence Lallak

Tiago Sé

Victor Velarde

Wesley Chiang

Yaziel Juarbe