The Villa
Villa E, a stone house by Studio KO.
On a hilltop in the Ourika valley, Villa E arranges its stone volumes around courtyards and a west-facing pool. Studio KO designed the architecture, the interiors and the furniture; the house was completed in 2013.
The house on its ridge · © Dan Glasser
Material
Local stone, laid by hand.
The stone was gathered from the surrounding land, carried up by donkey, then cut and laid on site by craftsmen from the neighbouring villages. The walls take on the colour of the hill; only a few square openings pierce them, and a burnished steel door marks the entrance.
Light
Thick walls, chosen openings.
Few openings towards the track, wide windows towards the valley. A vertical slit, a skylight above the stair: light comes in exactly where the architecture lets it.
The main living room, 2013 · © Philippe Garcia
Interiors
Slate, walnut, plaster.
Inside, the stone gives way to quiet surfaces: slate or pale timber floors, plaster, walnut and cedar. Large windows, some of them pivoting, frame the landscape, while alcoves, built-in benches and deep fireplaces make room for more private moments.
Access
Arrive in style.
The property features its own helipad, allowing guests to reach Villa E directly by helicopter. Road directions are shared on request.
Water
A line of water facing the sunset.
The infinity pool extends the terrace to the west. Its dark basin reflects the walls and the evening sky.
Villa E is a work by Studio KO. The practice is not involved in running the house.