From the magnificent oceanfront location to the finest detail in every room, Ani Villa is living proof that everything can be designed to reflect a serene kind of luxury.
Perched atop a bluff overlooking a stretch of white sand beach, the Ani Villa located in Dikwella at the South coast of Sri Lanka is truly a sight to behold. Designed by AW2, an international architecture and interior design office based in Paris, France, the sprawling 15-bedroom beachfront property is designed to offer travel aficinadoes a private luxury vacation experience.
“The first thing that strikes you when seeing the site for the first time at Ani Villa Dikwella is the beauty and drama of the site,” say architects Réda Amalou and Stephanie Ledoux of AW2. “You arrive at the top, where the 4.5 hectares of land slope down under your feet all the way to a thick, planted edge sitting 9 metres above the sea and beach below. The site ad the topography were, from the start, a major influence on the design. We had to make the site work with steep slopes while maintaining a low impact on the landscape and gardens.”
According to the architects, the project as been organised as a series of clusters where each one of them has been created as separate pavilions. The clusters are then linked together with a series of rams across the site that links all parts of the villa. Here, the ramps and clusters are all lined in dark stone retaining walls, creating a geometry of walls within the landscape, cutting through the greenery, creating platforms, holding pathways. Throughout, stone has been used as a unifying material.
The architects add: “From the reception pavilion, at the highest point of the site, you can embrace the view out to the ocean and see the whole site below. However, the clusters are mostly hidden in the landscape and within the topography, half dug in, with only the silver grey roofs in the greenery.”
For the buildings, they have been designed as standalone timber frame structure, sitting delicately atop the retaining walls. Each pavilions has a large overhanging roof – in iron wood shingles – that protects and shades the walls and windows. These facades have been designed in a strict rhythm of vertical panels, alternating stone and windows for the rooms. Coming to the main structures, which house the living areas, they are built as double height timber frame structures, clad in louvered shutters which allow for natural ventilation – the architects wanted to avoid air conditioning in these areas – and offer a rich play on light at night.
As a whole, the clusters are all organised to enhance the inside/outside feel. The architects have designed for them to extend out, to the terraces, open pavilions, pool decks, and pools. Overall the design seamlessly integrates architecture and outdoor spaces. The architecture opens itself to the exteriors.
“This intricate weaving of ins and outs create a strong sense of place for the guest as each part of building or pavilion offers an outdoor aspect: sea view, ponds, fountains, paths, terraces, plunge pools….the tropical elements are always presents,” say the architects. “They are here as a response to the climate, but not only that. We chose to use these codes – large overhangs, timber frame and natural ventilation – and define our own, more contemporary languages.
When it comes to the landscape, it has not been conceived as a front lawn, but also crafted as an extension of the architectural spaces. “The landscape was carefully laid out to provide a feel of tropical, lush gardens in some parts and to create more open areas with structured planting – for instance, the line of frangipani in front of the pool; lawns and strong hardscape features, such as the wall fountains or the water path,” say the architects. “The fountains are built as large stone walls, which are clad in recuperated clay tiles that form an intricate wall pattern upon which the water trickles down. The pools are also designed as outdoor living areas where you can spend time, with shaded swimming in water lounging, shared lounging daybeds, pool dining…”
Ani Villa has been organised as a series of clusters where each has been created as separate pavilions. The clusters are then linked together with a series of ramps, offering a geometry of walls within the landscape, cutting through the greenery, creating platforms and holding pathways. Throughout, stone has been used as a unifying material.
To complement the outlooks of the spaces, a meticulous selection of materials has been carried out to give the entire property an eclectic but decisively contemporary ambience throughout. “The materials we used for the interiors are a direct extension of the architectural materials, with very simple materials, natural colours – brown, grey and beige – and strong textures – rough cut stone, flamed granite, soft terrazzo. This again reinforces the coherence we were trying to attain in our design,” the architects share.
Most of the furniture at Ani Villa was custom-designed for the project, giving it a unique feel. The architects explain further: “We also designed the interiors, where we extended the same idea: create a sense of place, use the local and reinvent our own furniture. The ‘Lanka chair’ was developed for the project. It is probably the most iconic furniture designed there.”
But that’s not all, AW2 was also tasked to include elements that were disabled-friendly. “Aside from being asked to make the buildings and landscape fully accessible to wheelchair use. The challenge resided in the strong slopes of the existing land, the ‘pavilion’ architecture with outdoor accesses at different levels and also in trying to make it seamless. The rooms are the same, the equipment is the same for all. In this way, the experience is the same, erasing difference,” conclude the architects.
All these translates into a serene property that brings the best of everything under one roof – the property combines contemporary tropical architecture with the finest bespoke finishes and furnishings. On top of this, a spa, oversized oceanfront pools, dedicated children’s pools with exciting waterslides, and a plethora of spaces for dining and entertainment were included. Additionally, an event pavilion and related facilities also allow the property to host a wide range of events including weddings and corporate retreats.
