Villa Z by ARK-Architecture: A Sculpted Light-Filled Home in Tunisia

  • Project: Villa Z
  • Architect: ARK Architects
  • Location: Tunisia, Jardins D'el Menzah 2
  • Year: 2018
  • Area: 450 m2
  • Photography: Bilel Khemakhem

Minimalist Form with a Cultural Soul

Villa Z by ARK-Architecture is a masterful residential project that balances minimalist purity with rich cultural references. Located in the residential district of Jardins D’el Menzah 2 in Tunisia, the 4,843-square-foot villa brings together North African architectural traditions with a contemporary design language defined by light, geometry, and restrained elegance.

At first glance, the villa presents a clean, understated northern façade—a gesture of privacy in a dense urban fabric. Clad in white and adorned with a slender vertical glass slit that mimics the traditional Mashrabiya through intricate arabesque latticework, the home pays tribute to Islamic art while clearly belonging to the present.

Light as Architecture’s Central Axis

One of the defining features of Villa Z is its choreographed use of natural light. The vertical glass slit on the north side extends through the stairwell and aligns horizontally with a glazed sky-dome, creating an uninterrupted shaft of daylight. This feature forms the symbolic and architectural backbone of the house—a metaphorical link between earth and sky.

The home’s southern exposure takes full advantage of the site’s topography. Wide glass openings frame panoramic views and open onto a suspended infinity pool, merging architecture with nature. Whether by day or night, Villa Z becomes a light-reactive living space, constantly changing in atmosphere.

Energy-Efficient Design with Emotional Depth

To optimize comfort and environmental performance, the villa is fitted with high-performance, low-emissivity glazing, ensuring thermal insulation while maximizing daylight. Artificial lighting is equally refined: intensity zones allow for a range of moods and customized ambiance throughout interior and exterior spaces.

ARK-Architecture’s attention to thermal balance, solar orientation, and daylight optimization aligns with current best practices in sustainable residential design, positioning Villa Z among the finest modern homes in Tunisia.

Spatial Clarity Across Three Levels

Villa Z is spread over three levels, thoughtfully programmed for functionality and intimacy.

  • Ground Floor: A double-height living space forms the heart of the home. It connects fluidly to the kitchen, dining room, terrace, and outdoor pool—establishing a seamless indoor-outdoor lifestyle.

  • First Floor: Connected by a floating staircase and indoor bridge, this level separates private spaces. One wing houses the children’s bedrooms, while the other forms a cantilevered parental suite that dramatically overlooks the pool.

  • Garden Level: A leisure and productivity zone, complete with a playground and workspaces, it expands the villa’s lifestyle offerings without sacrificing privacy.

The circulation within Villa Z has been designed not as mere connectivity but as a spatial narrative, offering vistas, light interplay, and sensory transitions throughout the home.

A Contemporary Ode to Tunisian Heritage

From the symbolic olive tree planted at the entrance—celebrating Tunisia’s natural legacy—to the merging of mashrabiya patterns, clean white surfaces, and earthy textures, Villa Z represents a harmonious fusion of heritage and innovation.

Its blend of opacity and transparency, light and shadow, form and void, gives rise to a home that feels both grounded and ethereal. As such, Villa Z by ARK-Architecture is not simply a house but a cultural manifesto—an architecture that reflects the soul of Tunisia through the lens of refined modernism.

Villa Z by ARK-Architecture: A Sculpted Light-Filled Home in Tunisia
Photography © Bilel Khemakhem
Villa Z by ARK-Architecture: A Sculpted Light-Filled Home in Tunisia
Photography © Bilel Khemakhem
Villa Z by ARK-Architecture: A Sculpted Light-Filled Home in Tunisia
Photography © Bilel Khemakhem
Villa Z by ARK-Architecture: A Sculpted Light-Filled Home in Tunisia
Photography © Bilel Khemakhem
Villa Z by ARK-Architecture: A Sculpted Light-Filled Home in Tunisia
Photography © Bilel Khemakhem
Villa Z by ARK-Architecture: A Sculpted Light-Filled Home in Tunisia
Photography © Bilel Khemakhem
Villa Z by ARK-Architecture: A Sculpted Light-Filled Home in Tunisia
Photography © Bilel Khemakhem
Villa Z by ARK-Architecture: A Sculpted Light-Filled Home in Tunisia
Photography © Bilel Khemakhem
Villa Z by ARK-Architecture: A Sculpted Light-Filled Home in Tunisia
Photography © Bilel Khemakhem
Villa Z by ARK-Architecture: A Sculpted Light-Filled Home in Tunisia
Photography © Bilel Khemakhem
Villa Z by ARK-Architecture: A Sculpted Light-Filled Home in Tunisia
Photography © Bilel Khemakhem
Villa Z by ARK-Architecture: A Sculpted Light-Filled Home in Tunisia
Photography © Bilel Khemakhem
Villa Z by ARK-Architecture: A Sculpted Light-Filled Home in Tunisia
Photography © Bilel Khemakhem
Villa Z by ARK-Architecture: A Sculpted Light-Filled Home in Tunisia
Photography © Bilel Khemakhem
Villa Z by ARK-Architecture: A Sculpted Light-Filled Home in Tunisia
Photography © Bilel Khemakhem
Villa Z by ARK-Architecture: A Sculpted Light-Filled Home in Tunisia
Photography © Bilel Khemakhem

Posted by ARK Architects

ARK Architects is a boutique architectural firm renowned for delivering exceptional luxury residences that seamlessly integrate nature, materials, lifestyle, and innovation. Founded on the belief that “architecture is a built idea,” ARK transforms visions into timeless homes that are as emotionally resonant as they are architecturally precise. For over 25 years, ARK Architects has specialized in the design and construction of bespoke single-family villas in some of the most prestigious locations in Europe, including Marbella, Sotogrande, and La Zagaleta. Each project is crafted as a unique architectural masterpiece, a tailored living experience where sustainability, high performance, and aesthetic excellence converge. The firm is led by three visionary partners—Manuel R. Moriche, Santiago Ruiz, and Diego Suárez—who bring together a shared passion for holistic design. At ARK, architecture is not just a service; it’s a journey. Clients are invited to participate in a collaborative creation process from the very beginning, dreaming alongside architects to shape a home that reflects their deepest aspirations. With an in-house team that includes architects, interior designers, engineers, and sustainability experts, ARK delivers a global solution: from the first sketch to the final construction detail. The firm is committed to using natural materials—stone, wood, textiles—and the latest in sustainable and smart home technologies to create residences that are living ecosystems, finely tuned to their environment and inhabitants. Every ARK home is a response to its context—a balance between innovation and tradition, intimacy and openness, comfort and sophistication. The result is more than a house; it’s a sanctuary. A place where clients find harmony, peace, and a sense of belonging that transforms the way they live. ARK Architects continues to redefine luxury architecture by fostering a laboratory of ideas—constantly evolving to embrace the newest methodologies, construction techniques, and environmental strategies. Their mission is clear: to build homes that are not only works of art but also enduring assets, spaces where human experience is elevated through thoughtful, inspired design.