Villa Lea, French Riviera

Overlooking the beautiful coves of the Côte d’Azur near Monte Carlo, Villa Lea is set within a 4,500-square metre park that extends across a series of terraces, connected and enriched by lush Mediterranean vegetation. The famous district of the Principality is just a few kilometres away and can be seen from the garden and from the home’s vast windows, which offer panoramic views of the gulf and the region.

The relationship between the interior and exterior, and the desire to integrate seamlessly with the landscape were central to this project, curated by architects Massimo and Marco Donizelli of the Milanese studio of the same name. Flanked by three independent buildings, the morphology of the main residence is in fact shaped around a pre-existing rock face. The building is nestled within a ridge of puddingstone from top to bottom, and the rock forms a natural plinth section of the ground floor, on which the first and second levels rest. The result is an unusual dichotomy between the natural and the artificial; between the uneven, unprocessed profile of the rock, and the rigorous geometry of the building, with the marked lines of its terraces, clean cut edges, transparent glass balustrades, the pure colours of the envelope and the metallic strips of the brise-soleil.

The large roof terrace, furnished with sofas and chairs, defines the summit of Villa Lea and hosts the entrance from the road via a panoramic elevator, or a staircase that hugs the external countours of the house and leads to the first floor living area. This consists of a billiard room, a wine cellar, a patio with miniature Zen garden, the 150-square metre living room, a room for professional food preparation and a large kitchen that reflects the stylistic code of the construction. The central island is characterised once again by interlocking elements on different planes, such as the marble block nested within a light volume with a cantilever worktop in Lapitec, in the Polar White nuance and Satin finish. The sintered stone perpetuates the dualism of the Studiodonzelli concept, representing innovation and contemporaneity: it is the technological soul, an essential, high performance material that is the result of a production process covered by 25 patents and incorporating the decorative aesthetics of marble.

The frameless floor-to-ceiling windows and doors, curated by Sky-Frame, are the only element that separates the living and kitchen space from the terrace. When open, they create a fluid and comfortably usable space, completely focused on the visual relationship with the horizon. This concept carries over onto the upper level, dedicated to the sleeping quarters, where the large master suite, two bathrooms, two separate walk-in wardrobes and a private study are located.

The pool is surrounded by the rich vegetation of the garden along with numerous seating, relaxation and outdoor dining areas, and is dotted with small spotlights embedded in the flooring along its perimeter. The pool is also lit from within, thanks to chromotherapy installations that activate in the evening and night time, emphasising the dark finish and the contrast with the surrounding beige flooring.