Villa Lyla is a private estate that explores proportion, layered forms, and a grounded relationship to its landscape within a tropical setting. The home presents a peaceful retreat on the canal water's edge, balancing formal rigour with a relaxed, climate-conscious approach to living.
The documentary, created by Dr. Igea Troiani, Dr. Mamuna Iqbal, artist and researcher Paula Roush, and filmmaker Rime Tsujino, brings visibility to the experiences of six architects of South Asian origin.
The central nave of Sant'Agostino becomes the spine of the exhibition, as the designer divides the space using white, geometric volumes through freestanding architectural forms that visitors can move through.
Each Philippe Starck-designed villa begins with a grounded base formed in stone to give weight to the lower levels and establish a tactile connection to the earth. Above, the architect designs lighter structures, where glass and slender framing open the interiors toward the horizon.
The project is located on the suburban outskirts of Isesaki City, Gunma Prefecture, on a parcel of land left behind during suburban development. As surrounding plots were subdivided and sold, the site became landlocked and excluded from the formal market.
The Goddess escalator, which takes almost 21 minutes to ascend, is almost certainly the world's largest of its kind, cutting through the center of Wushan and rising straight into the sky.