Villa Vento
Sentosa Cove, SingaporeLuxurious Single Residence
The strong facade of Villa Vento ("wind" in Italian), exudes power. It was inspired by the iconic C42 cabin cruiser, and thus conjures the image of a boat driving on water. There are glazed pearl white walls with a metallic tinge that replcate a hull. Structural elements were assembled with am orthogonal ground floor framework thrusting towards the canal. The upper level, meanwhile, boasts of a vaulted roof.
Villa Vento is one of two adjacent bungalows designed for the same client on Sentosa Island, reflecting a period when Massimo Mercurio designed buildings with some affiliation with objects. This time, it references the sea, and succeeds in making spectators experience not just wind on their face or sea salt on their lips, but moreover, into the soul, the healing power of the infinite seas.
Nestled in Sentosa — Malay for “peace and tranquility” — off the coast of Singapore, Sentosa Cove is the most exclusive marina residential community offering tropical resort living.
A mere fifteen-minute drive from the hustle and bustle of mainland Singapore, it blends ultramodern design with the soothing harmonies of the water. The frangipani-lined residential enclave has about 2,000 oceanfront villas, waterway bungalows, hillside mansions and upscale condominiums designed by award-winning architects who have set a new standard in residential architecture in Singapore.
When the first land parcels were unveiled in 2003, it heralded a new era of luxury living, where residents could live on the waterfront, the waves lapping just a few metres away. The premium residential district of Sentosa Cove is the centrepiece of a billion-dollar masterplan, whose allure is only increased by the fact that it is the only place in Singapore where foreigners can buy a landed house — the reason why this cohort comprises 60% of all Sentosa Cove’s property buyers.
Composed of natural materials, Villa Vento embodies an island character that makes it stand out among other pitched-roof houses in the vicinity.
Fully furnished with pieces from brands like Minotti, Poltrona Frau, Kartell, B&B Italia, Zanotta, and sculptures by Massimo Mercurio.
Set in Chinese-dominated Singapore, it observes feng shui, the ancient philosophy associated with good fortune. The design was approved by a feng shui master.
Fitted with a pool, jacuzzi, sun deck, roof lounge and terrace, living and family lounges, home theatre, wet and dry kitchens, dining, bedrooms with ensuites, home lift and a yard.
Features energy-efficient large glass windows and skylight, LED lights, a terracotta roof, low-emissivity glazing, LED lights and luminiscent mosaic tiles that absorb solar light and give off a gentle glow at night.
Property is guarded by a system of security cameras which goes way beyond the minimum requirement by code.
SECTION DRAWING OF VILLA VENTO SHOWS THE BUILDING’S OVERALL UNIQUE IDEA. Total GFA: 678.44 sqm, Site Area: 881.30 sqm
From the outside, Vento is an exciting, bold, yet simple assembly of structural elements with a powerful orthogonal ground floor framework thrusting towards the canal and an upper level with a vaulting roof. The fully glazed walls and structural elements are swathed in pearl white with a metallic tinge to replicate the typical hull of a boat, allowing the interiors to merge with the landscape and leaving the structure of the building to inhabit the site in an assertively graphic gesture.
FLOOR PLAN OF THE GROUND LEVEL. Floor Area: 280.12 sqm
What happens is a staged arrival sequence where one crosses a moat as though leaving the land for a floating vessel. Inside the entry, the full view is further delayed by a vestibule with Massimo's early sculpture, Feng("wind"), a spiralling representation of a whirlwind set in a small fountatin. The initial circulation through the house, then, is indirect, leading around the central stairwell, past the kitchen and dining area until the full view is eventually revealed.
FLOOR PLAN OF THE SECOND LEVEL. Floor Area: 233.48 sqm
Inside, even outside, the extensive use of timber and timber detailing reinforce the sense of a classic cabin cruiser. This is particularly true with the two guest rooms on the side which, with their relatively small, rounded, forward-slanting windows and intimate bathrooms suggest the cosiness of shipboard cabins.
FLOOR PLAN OF THE THIRD LEVEL. Floor Area: 92.74 sqm
If the guest rooms resemble cabins, the upstairs entertainment space more resembles a grand stateroom in its glazed spaciousness, its glass walls thrusting outwards as on a cruise ship, with its extensive deck shaded by a generous overhang which has curved up in a powerful arc from the foundations.
Security cameras, beyond minimum requirement by code, monitor the entire property.
The home automation system is linked to the alarm system to provide additional safeguards. When an alarm detects a fire, or a certain level of smoke, then all the lights in the house could be set to blink to alert the occupants. Audio and video components could be closed down to alert the homeowner to a possible fire or burglary. Again, this is beyond minimum requirement by code. 
Remote control activates motion sensors and security cameras and turns on exterior night lights. Smart control of lights is used to set preferences to limit children’s access to entire house’s audio, video and security systems. Also beyond minimum requirement by code.
The building is equipped with lightning protection.
Building is equipped with a household shelter in the basement, providing protection against disasters such as blasts and fragments during an emergency.
A fire hydrant is installed at the entrance.
Class A fire extinguishers are provided for each floor.
Fire and smoke detectors are installed to alarm occupants from possible danger.
The unprotected opening of the building is controlled within the safe zone by the set back from neighbouring building.
Building material is fire-rated with the minimum period of fire resistance required by code.
Frequently used in Italy, travertine is a white or light-colored calcareous rock deposited from mineral springs. The word ‘travertine’ is derived from the Italian travertino, a derivation of the Latin tiburtinus ‘of Tibur’. Its namesake is the origin of Tivoli, a district near Rome.
Like marble, travertine is a form of limestone, though not as exorbitant. In ancient times, Romans used travertine on the main parts of buildings where marble use would be too much of a luxury. For example, steps would be made of travertine while the columns or sculptures were made of marble.
Among the famous buildings that use this type of stone are the Sacré-Coeur Basilica in Paris, the Theater of Marcellus, the Cathedral at Pisa and the Roman Colosseum, the largest building in the world constructed mostly of travertine.
Frequently used in Italy, travertine is a white or light-colored calcareous rock deposited from mineral springs. The word ‘travertine’ is derived from the Italian travertino, a derivation of the Latin tiburtinus ‘of Tibur’. Its namesake is the origin of Tivoli, a district near Rome.
Like marble, travertine is a form of limestone, though not as exorbitant. In ancient times, Romans used travertine on the main parts of buildings where marble use would be too much of a luxury. For example, steps would be made of travertine while the columns or sculptures were made of marble.
Among the famous buildings that use this type of stone are the Sacré-Coeur Basilica in Paris, the Theater of Marcellus, the Cathedral at Pisa and the Roman Colosseum, the largest building in the world constructed mostly of travertine.
Since the seventh century, teak wood — whose tree, Tectona grandis, is native to the tropics — has been used to adorn the residences of the rich and powerful. Burmese teak is a mainstay in shipbuilding as it makes for an excellent ship wood due to its ability to ward off dry rot. While it is found in Southeast Asian nations like Thailand and Malaysia, the most precious and valuable teak is known to come from Burma.
Wenge was utilized here for the doors and joinery panels, it is a rich, dark wood with an elegant and exotic appeal.
This theatrical quality is carefully stage-managed because, while the street elevation is certainly powerful ─ the vaulting roof, for example, begins on either side of the street entry with two arching ribs punctuated by highlight windows drawing light into the interior ─ it does not immediately reveal the drama to come.
Villa Vento won the A’Design Award for Architecture, Building and Structure Design Category and the Asia Pacific Property Award for Best Architecture, Single Residence Singapore for 2019-2020.
