Villa Aruba

The villa is located in the Dutch West Indies in Noord Aruba’s San Miguel neighbourhood. It overlooks the Caribbean as well as expanses of wildlife including the wetlands of the Bubali Bird Sanctuary.

XVW was influenced by Florida Modernism including the Sarasota School with its strong emphasis on buildings’ relationship to their immediate climate.

XVW was influenced by Florida Modernism including the Sarasota School with its strong emphasis on buildings’ relationship to their immediate climate. At Villa Aruba, the large overhangs of the roof protect its generous open facades from direct sunlight. To further prevent uncomfortable heat gains the roof and facades are insulated. This is the first building on the island to adopt this method of passive cooling, although mechanical ventilation is also available with an air conditioning system powered by solar panels.

The exterior of the lower floor is clad in roughly hewn “klip” stone that has been quarried on site and resembles the local and historic way of making walls to prevent the historic agave plantations from the unrelenting winds. This creates a rusticated effect as well as a strong connection between the ground floor and the garden landscape. Overall, the detailing of the house has been adapted to suit local construction practices and skills.

Above the villa reads like a crisp, white streamlined pavilion. The main living areas are located within this first floor pavilion with guest rooms below. The East elevation of the house is completely closed thereby sheltering the building from the ever present easterly winds in Aruba.