The sintered stone for Villa Lea on the French Riviera

Set on a 4,500 sq. m. park, over a series of connected terraces enriched by thick Mediterranean vegetation, Villa Lea faces the wonderful coves of the Côte d'Azur, near Monte Carlo. The famous town of the Principality is in fact a few kilometers away: you can see it from the garden and from the huge windows of the residence, which offer a panoramic view of the gulf and the territory.

The two architects Massimo and Marco Donizelli – by the homonymous Milanese studio – curated the project focusing on the relationship between interior and exterior, together with the desire to achieve the perfect integration with the landscape. In fact, flanked by three annexes, the morphology of the main house is shaped starting from a pre-existing rocky wall.

The pudding-stonespur wraps the building from top to bottom; it is used as a rough base corresponding to a portion of the ground floor, on which the first and second levels rest. The result is a particular dichotomy between natural and artificial, between the casual and unworked profile of the rock and the rigorous geometry of the volume, with the marked lines of the terraces, the sharp edges, the transparent glass rail and the pure colors of the casing and the metal slats of the brise-soleil.

The large roof terrace, furnished with sofas and seats, defines the top of Villa Lea and contains the entrance from the street. You can enter using a panoramic lift or via an external staircase, which follows the shape of the house and leads to the first floor. Here, you will find the living area consisting of a billiard room, a wine cellar, a patio with a miniature Zen garden, the living area of 150 square meters, a room for professional food preparation and the large kitchen, which follows the style of the residence. The central island is in fact characterized by elements placed on different levels and interlocked together, such as the marble block that is grafted onto the light volume with cantilevered worktop, made of Lapitec, in the Polar White nuance and Satin finish.

The sintered stone is also part of the dualism sought by Studio Donzelli, between innovation and contemporaneity: it is the result of a production process covered by 25 patents, characterized by technology, essentiality and high-performance, besides the decorative aesthetics of marble. As a covering of the island and as a top, it guarantees maximum resistance thanks to the pore-free surface - non-absorbent and perfectly hygienic -, its resistance to scratches, bumps, temperatures, UV rays, chemicals and acids.           

The full-height windows, framed by the thin windows by Sky-Frame, are the only element that separates the living and kitchen space from the terrace; when opened, they create a fluid and easily usable space, aimed at creating visual continuity with the horizon.
The same concept is on the upper level, dedicated to the sleeping area, here there are: the large master suite, two bathrooms, two separate walk-in closets and a private study. At level 0, partially underground, there are two bedrooms with bathroom dedicated to guests, the cinema room, the SPA with whirlpool, Hammam and emotional shower, a gym, a Pilates room and a pool house with kitchen and living room, directly overlooking on the large outdoor infinity pool, with hydro massage stations.

A swimming pool overlooking the bay

The pool is surrounded by the rich vegetation of the garden, by numerous outdoor areas for conversation, relaxation or dining and is dotted around the perimeter with small spots embedded in the flooring. Lighting fixtures with chromotherapy provide lighting: they work during the evening and night hours, emphasizing the dark-colored coatings in contrast with the surrounding beige-colored flooring.                                                        The pool surfaces are also entirely made of Lapitec, with Terra Ebano nuance and Vesuvio finish, expertly decorated by Freri and Brignoli to exploit the potential of the material. High workability, tension reduction and XXL format (up to 1500x3365 mm) have made it possible to minimize the junction marks (more subject to maintenance) and to create curvilinear terraces and 45-degree cut elements.

Full-body and made with a blend of 100% natural minerals, the material can be perfectly used even in immersion. Moreover, its predisposition to milling, cuts, engravings, etc. facilitates the introduction of traditional channeling elements and systems used in the tanks. Finally, sintered stone is associated with high coefficients of friction and anti-slip, up to R13 and in full compliance with the DIN 51130 standard. It thus ensures not only durability and resistance, but also maximum safety to people.