Villa Dellago by JM Architecture – A Minimalist Lakeside Retreat Immersed in Nature

Villa Dellago, designed by JM Architecture, is a refined private residence situated on the eastern shore of Lake Garda, Italy. Completed in 2023, the 250 m² villa blends contemporary minimalism with the dramatic natural landscape, creating a light, transparent, and highly integrated architectural experience.

A Site-Specific Design Inspired by Natural Topography

The concept for Villa Dellago emerges directly from the site’s natural morphology. The architects positioned the structure on a natural terrace parallel to the lake, selecting a compact footprint that minimizes excavation and preserves the existing terrain. This sensitive approach allows the house to sit gently on the landscape, maintaining the integrity of the surrounding slopes and vegetation.

A One-Storey Pavilion with Fluid Spatial Organization

The villa is conceived as a single-story pavilion, with a clear and highly functional layout. The living area anchors one end of the pavilion, while the master bedroom occupies the opposite side. Service spaces are centrally placed, with a carefully integrated staircase leading to the underground level.

Below the main floor, the architecture engages the natural slope of the terrain. Two generous patios open toward the lake, ensuring that the lower-level rooms receive ample natural light and sweeping views. These carved-out courtyards visually and physically connect the interior spaces to the surrounding landscape.

Transparency, Lightness, and a Floating Architectural Expression

The main façade is defined by extensive glazing, allowing every room to enjoy uninterrupted panoramas of Lake Garda. This creates a sense of weightlessness—the pavilion reads as an open and permeable volume immersed in greenery.

A cantilevered flat roof extends uniformly on all sides, offering shade, controlling sunlight, and subtly lifting the structure above the terrain. Carefully concealing all technical elements, the roof is clad in light gray ceramic finishes, emphasizing a clean, minimalist expression.

Material Warmth and Natural Integration

While the architecture is inherently minimal, material selection introduces warmth and texture. The master bathroom façade is the only fully enclosed section of the pavilion and is clad with wood plastic composite slats in an oak finish, echoing the tones of the surrounding landscape. This volume extends into an open-air patio that becomes a private wellness space.

A crisp white aluminum frame outlines the pavilion’s perimeter, providing a delicate visual base. On the south side, the swimming pool extends from the structure’s footprint, reflecting the sky and adding continuity between architecture and nature.

Custom Interiors Crafted with Precision

The interiors continue JM Architecture’s signature minimalist approach, featuring custom-made fixed furniture, oak wall paneling, and integrated storage that enhances the clean lines of each space. In the bathrooms, marble vanities add a sculptural touch, while the open kitchen incorporates concealed technical equipment for a seamless, uncluttered appearance.

Furniture pieces appear to float within the rooms, amplifying light and emphasizing a contemporary, serene atmosphere. Retractable roller blinds are seamlessly integrated into the ceiling perimeter, offering privacy while maintaining visual purity.

Landscape Architecture that Preserves and Enhances Nature

The landscape, designed by Frassinago, complements the house through a terraced composition shaped by the site’s natural levels. Native olive trees and mature cypresses were preserved and celebrated, anchoring the garden in its Mediterranean context. The planting strategy adapts to the varied topography: lawns appear on flat terraces, while specific species stabilize steeper slopes.

All photographs are works of Jacopo Mascheroni