- 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
