Whether for luxurious boats or remarkable residences, the design approach of Christian Grande is always unique and harmonious, bringing different materials into play to create an indoor-outdoor bond. This can be seen in Villa Santalea, surrounded by nature in the countryside near Parma, which protects and conceals the private dimension while remaining close to the surrounding environment, precisely as happens on a yacht. In its area of 400 sqm, light and matter blend in perfect harmony, bringing to mind the vessels created by the designer for the brands Invictus Yacht, Capoforte, Cranchi and Sacs.
“The layout of the interiors – says Christian Grande – calls for ample, permeable spaces for the living area on the ground floor, while the night zones, divided into master bedroom, children’s room and study, gravitate around a winter garden that brings light to the core of the solid, inscrutable volume of the building. Here the suspended, almost metaphysical atmosphere suggest intimate, meditative use of space.”
Christian Grande thus plays with the materials, shaping their incisive presence. A brick wall on the side towards the street links back to local Emilian memories; the large windows at the back accompany the soft lines of the surrounding landscape, where a swimming pool is joined by a range of exotic plants, including palm and banana trees. In the garden, the energy of volcanic stone seems to burst forth with strong impressions.
The main feature of the interior is eucalyptus wood, the only type of wood utilized for all the furnishings (wall panels and even ceiling panels), matched with accessories and complements with fine craftsmanship, along with pale smooth plaster for contrast. Warm and luminous, the staircase has a single ramp that connects the two levels of the villa, defined by a grosgrain wooden membrane and a glass parapet, theatrically flooded with natural light entering through an overhead skylight.
Photo © Pietro Bianchi
