The general trend in the design development of the Vamizi Villas is to reflect the multi cultural history of Mozambique with its African, Portuguese and Arabic influence playing an integral part in sculpting the architectural elements within the design.
The African influence can be seen in the light timber structures, weaving of fabric and timber for screens, the shading and the lightweight and often decorative timber construction used for walls, roofs and floors and the integration of masonry as a backdrop for these materials.
It is the same lightweight construction that allows the buildings to “touch the earth lightly” to minimize their impact on the environment.
It is intended that the Arabic influence be used to create a varied form of courtyard architecture that allows for privacy and enhances passive design principles. This decorative and solid style of architecture will be used in moderation to create contrast with the lightweight and floating timber structures and assist in creating an anchoring effect of the structure.
A “pavilion” type methodology is also to be used to avoid existing trees and natural features which will also assist in breaking up the scale of the buildings.
With the many cultural influences affecting the aesthetic, it is intended that solid passive design principles form the backbone of the buildings, combined with the sustainable materials of the local environment, to create an architecture that is unique to the island.
On this particular site there are 6 bedrooms composed of six separate units. Each unit is composed of a sleeping room and a bathroom with a masonry screened courtyard and beach facing deck (the nanny bedroom shares bathroom with the kids bedroom). The structures are defined by hardwood posts in-filled with perforated timber screens and timber louvered doors and windows (no glass). The floors and deck are timber with bed bases being finished with a epoxy screed. The timber shingle roofs protect the pavilions from the elements.
Further the living zones comprising of a dinning and lounge pavilions similar in finish to the bedrooms, are joined together by a timber deck and swimming pool.
These lightweight structures are anchored by the masonry ‘service’ building part of the design. This can be summarised by entry look-out tower, kitchen, scullery, laundry and courtyards.
Other satellite structures include the staff accommodation, a light weight timber structure with makuti roof, and a timber beach gazebo.
