Stepping Up: Exploring Villa 95 by Fran Silvestre Arquitectos

Fran Silvestre Arquitectos are a studio whose work consistently commands attention, known for their striking, minimalist designs that seem to emerge organically from their sites. They have a rare ability to blend clean, modern lines with dramatic landscapes, creating structures that feel both bold and harmonious. Villa 95, located in the resort of Sotogrande within the Altos de Valderrama development in Andalusia, Spain, is a prime example of their mastery, sitting on a sloped, forested plot with stunning views of the southern coast. Its defining feature? Zigzagging stone volumes that artfully step up the hillside, offering dynamic vantage points across the surrounding landscape.

The plot presented a particular challenge – an awkwardly-shaped, sloped, and forested site that required a thoughtful response. Fran Silvestre Arquitectos met this head-on by dividing the home into three distinct, elongated volumes. These volumes are arranged in a clever zigzag pattern as they step up the hillside, a key architectural gesture that not only addresses the topography but also strategically creates space in the centre for a large terrace, a feature specifically requested by the client and serving as a central outdoor hub.

The internal spaces of Villa 95 are logically organised according to these three volumes, creating distinct zones as they ascend the slope. The highest volume is dedicated to the private spaces, housing the bedrooms. These rooms are dramatically lined by an expansive glass wall and are oriented to overlook the large rooftop terrace created by the volume below, onto which they have direct access via sliding glass doors – a seamless blend of indoor privacy with outdoor space and those coveted views. Beneath this expansive terrace sits the central volume, containing the main day areas.

This level features a large open living, dining, and kitchen area, alongside an office, all fronted by another panoramic glass wall that frames uninterrupted views towards the coast, maximising the connection to the breathtaking vista. This large glass wall opens onto a secondary terrace, which features a swimming pool that sits atop the home’s lowest volume.

At the bottom of the sloping site, the lowest volume is partially dug into the landscape, a more concealed level that houses the practical areas. This includes a garage and technical spaces, but also features a dedicated wellness space, providing a touch of luxury and overlooking a narrow courtyard – balancing necessary utility with a private amenity zone.

The villa is finished on the exterior in pale stone cladding on the zigzagging volumes, a material choice that visually integrates the house with the natural landscape and references the local terrain. Interiors are largely minimal and white, creating a clean, timeless backdrop that allows the views and the architecture itself to take centre stage. The overall design was conceived to be “timeless” and flexible, specifically allowing for the possibility of housing multiple generations in the future – adding a layer of thoughtful longevity and adaptability to the minimalist aesthetic.

Villa 95 by Fran Silvestre Arquitectos is a remarkable architectural response to a challenging coastal site. By creatively dividing the home into zigzagging stone volumes, they have created a unique structure that expertly balances communal and private spaces across multiple levels, integrates indoor and outdoor living with terraces and a pool, maximises stunning coastal views through expansive glass walls, and is built with durable materials and a timeless design philosophy intended for multi-generational living. It stands as a beautiful, functional, and visually striking piece of modern architecture that blends seamlessly with its dramatic Spanish landscape.

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