Amangiri Villas, Utah – Selldorf Architects
Designed to take advantage of a spectacular high-desert setting, the Amangiri Villas will provide convenient access to the adjacent resort’s extensive services in an intimate, casually elegant setting. Using dramatic masonry walls as an organising device to define a series of airy, interconnected spaces, Selldorf Architects has carefully balanced shading with long views to produce 28 villas places in the rugged canyon landscape.
Each house is sited to maximise both privacy and views, and each is organised around a shaded arrival court with a small fountain. A generous foyer provides access to the villas’ airy, glass-walled living spaces, which can be opened to a 54-foot private pool, terrace and the landscape beyond. A double-sided fireplace serves both living and dining rooms, while a study provides for intimately scaled relaxation at the end of the day.
Organised along a dramatic double-height corridor, each villa has four large bedroom suites in which floor-to-ceiling glazing folds away for connection to a lush, private garden or raised terrace with long views. Large, light-filled bathrooms provide spa-like restoration. Villa owners can select additional features such as a fifth bedroom, a wine room, a fitness room, a media room, and maid’s quarters.
Overall, the design minimises environmental impact. Site disturbances and paved surfaces have been conceived to lessen the adverse effects on fragile desert flora. Additionally, the design addresses energy use through both passive strategies, such as orientation and shading to reduce heat gain, and active strategies, such as efficient evaporative cooling systems. Villa buyers will be able to choose additional “green” elements such as rainwater harvesting for irrigation, geothermal heating and cooling, and photovoltaic panels to reduce electricity costs.
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J Norov
