- Project: Villa Air
- Architect: ARK Architects
- Location: Tunisia, Morneg, Tunis
- Year: 2024
- Area: 1500 m2
- Photography: Bilel Khemakhem
A Bold Statement of Contemporary Architecture in Tunisia
Villa Air by ARK-architecture stands as a striking architectural landmark nestled in the rolling hills of Morneg, Tunisia. Completed in 2024, this 1,500-square-meter residence redefines contemporary Mediterranean design with its sculptural form, refined materiality, and deep respect for the natural landscape.
Set on a two-hectare sloped site, the villa draws visual strength from its alignment with the Jbal Errsas mountain range, forging a seamless bond between built form and terrain. Rather than dominate the land, the architecture yields to it—emerging gently like a geological formation shaped by time and climate.
Floating Forms and Cantilevered Geometry
The villa’s composition is defined by a powerful architectural duality: gravity versus levitation. This concept materializes through a rhythm of horizontal planes and cantilevered volumes—some just 45 cm thick—that extend over the landscape with striking elegance.
These bold projections are not only aesthetically expressive but also environmentally responsive. Their shadow lines reduce solar gain, showcasing a balance of design innovation and passive climate strategy. Each structural element contributes to a feeling of weightlessness, reinforcing the villa’s namesake—Air.
Architecture as a Lens to the Landscape
At the heart of the villa’s concept is the idea that architecture should frame nature, not fight it. Every façade features precisely positioned apertures, turning the surrounding landscape into a dynamic series of living paintings. Each elevation is oriented to enhance solar control and maximize views, offering changing perspectives throughout the day.
Inside, spaces are designed with fluid continuity. Circulation zones are elevated into architectural promenades, connecting double-height volumes that draw daylight deep into the core. Rather than isolated rooms, the interior flows organically—blurring the boundaries between private and shared spaces.
Material Language Rooted in Context
The materials chosen for Villa Air pay homage to its setting. Pristine white volumes capture and reflect the Tunisian sunlight, while travertine and warm wood finishes add tactile softness. Earth-tinted concrete grounds the structure to its context, deepening its sense of permanence.
This minimal yet sensorial palette promotes a monochromatic harmony with the terrain. Indoors and out, the textures and tones remain cohesive—reinforcing the villa’s architectural clarity.
Indoor-Outdoor Synergy with Infinity Horizons
One of Villa Air’s most poetic features is its seamless integration of indoor and outdoor living. Terraces and open-air platforms extend living spaces outward, softening the thresholds between enclosure and openness.
Two infinity-edge pools stretch toward the horizon, mirroring the sky and amplifying the architecture’s sense of suspension. These water elements act as both design anchors and emotional touchpoints—reflecting the villa’s quiet luxury and meditative calm.
A New Standard for Luxury Villas in Tunisia
Villa Air by ARK-architecture is more than a home—it is a conceptual manifesto for site-sensitive Mediterranean modernism. Its clean lines, structural daring, and elemental elegance position it among the most ambitious architectural projects in Tunisia today.
This residence exemplifies a broader movement in North African architecture, where design no longer imitates global trends but responds to place, climate, and culture in meaningful ways.
Photography © Bilel Khemakhem
