With their arms open to the ocean, the Abama custom villas are the ideal project for architects who love to work with nature to fulfill their clients’ desires. Color, light, and water are in constant communication with these luxury homes tailored to their owners’ needs. Each residence has its own character, an extension of the personality and interests of the people who inhabit it. A special type of architect is required; one who is willing to put his or her skill to the task of giving shape to a feeling, and Andrés Mazuelas is that type of architect. As he describes his work, “I don’t build space. I build dreams.”
The process begins with one of the premium plots located in the upper part of the resort that offers exceptional views over the golf course, the Atlantic Ocean and the island of La Gomera. The sizeable plots, all over 750 m2, allow for the construction of luxury villas with private gardens and swimming pools. It’s a blank canvas ensconced in idyllic surroundings with a springtime climate and all the leisure, sport, and dining facilities offered by the resort. A set of architectural parameters exists to maintain the aesthetic harmony of the environment and the quality of construction, but the architect is free to make the most of the land, interpreting the owners’ wishes and creating a unique masterpiece.
“A project is a unique response to a situation. It’s an equation with as many variables as we choose to consider: the plot and its shape, the climate and its sunlight, the views, even logistical variables like regulations and budget,” says Andrés Mazuelas, who believes function and comfort are closely related to the emotions a person experiences in her home.
What he calls “architecture for people” is related to tastes, but also routines. There are homes in which the kitchen and the living room take center stage, while others bow to outdoor space and favor natural light in every room. There are those who consider the home to be an intimate space of renewal and tranquility, and others who use their homes to mix business and pleasure. Knowing how a client plans to use each part of his home is an essential part of developing the personality of the architecture.
“I like to think of a project as a musical composition, a painting, or a film that tells a story. Every architectural project has a story behind it. But instead of a sequence of notes, we have a sequence of spaces, volumes and a play of light and shadow.” Mazuelas is clear that his creative process begins when he first speaks with the people who will occupy the villa. Through open dialogue, he uncovers key information that helps him develop his design. Mazuelas is less interested in auteurship than in interpreting his client's personality and making sure that personality is reflected in the final result. With this process being "personal and personalized", both the architect and the owner identify with and feel represented by the project. It is, he says, "a singular work, set apart from the rest. My clients look at their homes and say, ‘It’s my house!’”
To get to that point, and engender the most emotional response possible, Andrés Mazuelas loves to surprise his clients with unique details that challenge their expectations for a residence or even for mixed business and residential spaces. As he explains it, “I like to introduce unexpected elements that stimulate emotions: twists or colors that generate feelings of surprise or joy. It’s wonderful to be able to rediscover a feeling of awe when you take in that view of the ocean between La Palma and La Gomera. You’re safe, protected, but looking out at the infinite beyond."
For buyers who dream of a custom design particular to them, Andrés Mazuelas is one of the great architectural interpreters. The comfort and life inherent in his projects ensure that form and function come together as they ought in any successful example of modern house design.
