he brief to Architect Valentina Audrito and her team at Word of
Mouth was very clear: create a fun, unique space in which the client,
an Italian socialite/jewellery designer, could live and entertain.
Set on only 300sqm of land in the trendy area of Seminyak, Bali, the site
presented challenges not only in terms of its limited size but also its east
orientation. The design solution therefore required a creative use of
the space, where different functions could harmoniously overlap and
interact with each other – the dining area also becomes a lounge, the
living zone fl ows seamlessly into the pool area, and each bedroom
functions also as a living space. The result of allowing the spaces to
overlap, instead defi ning functions by changes in level and sliding
panels, is a sense of a much larger space.
The fi rst fl oor is dominated by the master bedroom, fl anked on 3 sides
by green terraces, which maximise natural light and enhance the
perception of the size of the space. Here too, functions comfortably
overlap each other within the one area – there is a visual interaction
between the bed, bathtub, shower, sink, and writing table. All vertical
partitions on this fl oor are treated using wooden louvers to maximise
the natural light, giving this space a much lighter feel in contrast to the
strongly defi ned concrete structure of the fl oor below.
The overall aesthetic of the villa is a tribute to the Mediterranean
architecture that played a role in the backgrounds of both the client
and Italian-born Audrito. Rounded corners are favoured over hard
edges in order to infuse a softness to the imposing lines of the structure.
The material palette is purposefully restrained; largely consisting of
white rendered walls, polished concrete and white painted timber – all
offset with an abundance of natural vegetation. The client requested
that the architectural material palette be limited as much as possible
to black and white (the only colours she wears). As is typical of the
architecture of Word of Mouth, the colour is instead introduced in
the playful interior furnishings; a combination of items selected from
all over the word, and pieces designed by the practice, such as the
furniture range inspired by eggs.