We sat down with ARK Architects founder, Manuel Ruiz Moriche to discover more about his inspiration for the latest turn-key project at The Seven, NIWA.
The Seven is an exclusive gated community in the rolling hills of Sotogrande that offer one-of-a-kind plots for unique villa concepts, each designed by a different, eminent international architect. All the plots are a full hectare of parkland that provide views of the Mediterranean Sea and exceptional privacy, while taking inspiration from the natural surroundings.
World renowned architectural studio ARK is responsible for designing the NIWA property. ARK specialises in using surrounding nature as inspiration for its projects and puts a focus on the garden being a mediator between the landscape and the home. This results in a free flowing, seamless blend home that slots beautifully into its surroundings.
We spoke to Manuel Ruiz Moriche about the concept and creative process of designing NIWA and how the location provides the perfect opportunity to “live within nature” whilst still being close to amenities such as sporting facilities, the marina, and multiple airports.
“My creative process has always been the same – anything works on paper, but there is always something that takes priority, and for us its always the place,” said Moriche. “What are we going to give back to that place by putting a home there?”
“We have named this project NIWA, which is a word in Japanese which means garden. It’s a project organised through the use of courtyards and gardens. You’re always in dialogue with nature when at this property.
“We also want it to be a very ecologically efficient project with little impact on the environment. We will re-use all the rainwater and fit the property with solar panels so that the house is self-sufficient – it’ll also be fitted with cutting edge smart systems. It will be a house that is highly technical but perfectly integrated into the location.”
Manuel expresses how this turn-key project is “every architect’s dream.” With the plot being topographically very flat, southeast facing, and overlooking the Guadiaro Valley and the Mediterranean Sea. “Could there be anything better?” Manuel asks.
For more information on the unique villa concepts at The Seven, head to: https://sotogrande.com/the-seven/