VILLA VOLGA

Lighting design solutions for private villa in Tver region on the banks of the Volga River

CLIENT
PRIVATE PERSON
ARCHITECT BUREAU
FAS(t)
EQUIPMENT PRODUCERS
ASTRO LIGHTING
DELTA LIGHT
FLOS
iGUZZINI
MICHAEL ANASTASSIADES
VIABIZZUNO
PARTNER
PHOTO
FAS(t)
TIMESCALE
2023

Project details

What makes this villa special is the nature of the area in which it is located. The architects played on two themes: one was suggested by the place itself, the second by the nature of the slope. During several visits to the site, the high bank of the Volga, lazily sloping down to the river, did not seem “strong and monolithic” enough for a massive building volume to grow from it. However, this same feeling did not allow the architects to play out the story with the opposition.

While thinking about how to work with the slope and how the building should be planted, the architects identified some geological processes that required special engineering solution. It was interesting that hard mineral rocks were exposed at the foot of the slope, granite boulders of bizarre shapes or entire constellations of lime grains were observed. The architects were inspired by the idea that the slope gradually rolls down, in addition to the stones, it also revealed a certain structure that was initially hidden. This is how the concept of a massive concrete basement with retaining walls and stairs scattered in different directions appeared.

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LIGHTING
The top floor villa, through which the entrance to the house is provided and where there is a living room with a fireplace, a dining room, and an open kitchen, looks like a light glass pavilion, partially protecting the “archaeological” discovery. At the same level along the perimeter there is a terrace from which a breathtaking view of the Volga and the famous Kalyazinskaya flooded bell tower opens.

The result was a two-story house, more like a one-story house with a portico on a pedestal. The main entrance is not on the riverbank, but on the opposite side. Incidentally, up close the building appears to be a one-story belvedere pavilion overlooking the river.

The interior of the villa is designed in a minimalist style. There is nothing superfluous in the decor, each item is in its place and performs its function. There are only noble materials were used in the decoration of country house - warm wood, decorative plaster in natural sand tones, stone, metal, textiles.

The lighting design solution was developed considering the features of architectural solutions and interior design. Maximum air, lightness, transparency, and unity with nature - this is what you can feel in the interior. In order not to disturb this atmosphere to implement decorative and functional tasks in the interior of the top floor with 5-meter ceilings there were used pendant lamps in the shape of cylinders made of transparent glass. These minimalistic lighting devices are almost invisible during the day. A thin dark wire supports the graphic nature of straight and strict lines in the interior, echoing the few decorative elements.

With the help of light, space zoning is also carried out. Local lighting, highlighting the main zones, creates a feeling of depth and multi-dimensionality of the space of simple rectangular volumes. General functional lighting is mainly implemented with the help of recessed rotating lamps, which make it possible to keep the ceiling clean and provide standardized lighting levels. For example, a decorative lighting effect is provided by cove lighting in a warm shade, which highlights the rectangular volumes of the private area of bedrooms, bathrooms, and dressing rooms.

In a concise and stylish interior, natural effects - light and shadow through the glazing - act as decoration during the daytime. In the evening, this problem is solved with the help of artificial lighting: spectacular accents are placed using floor luminaries and table lamps, cove lighting, and recessed rotary luminaries. Another interesting area with light accents is the corridor, more similar to a gallery. You can find antlers of deer and mountain goats there. The light divides the narrow space of the corridor into two parts - on one side the objects of the exhibition are highlighted, and on the other - passages to other rooms.

Compact projectors located on the columns of the upper floor perform two functions - they illuminate the floor of the terrace that encircles the floor, and also highlight the columns. In this way, the contrast of shadow and light continues the graphic design.

Simplicity and conciseness combined with warmth and comfort, as well as maximum closeness to nature characterize this project. The developed lighting design solutions organically fit into the architects' concept, filling the space at night like decorative elements made from such airy and natural matter as light.
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