Sky Base One / Bespoke Architects

Architects: Bespoke Architects
Area: 641 m²
Year: 2023
Photography: João Morgado
Architects Team: Alexandre Mendes, John Wilson, Elisabete Cardoso, Paulo Matias, Mauro Meireles, Savannah Salgueiro
Client: Vision of Sky Base One provided by Spy Manor
Structure: Artelapa – Engineering and Construction, Lda
Main Contractor: Teifil – Empresa de Construção Civil, Lda
Interior and Exterior Finishing: STO Ibérica
Window Frames: Jofebar, S.A. | Panoramah ah!38
Iron: Mendes & Faustino, Lda
Kitchen: Cozlux, Cozinhas e Equipamentos, Lda
Sanitaryware: Jee-O
Carpentry: Rigorobrigatório – Serviço de Carpintaria Unipessoal, Lda
Glass: Sultêmpera, Lda
Domotics: Novitae, Soluções Tecnológicas, Lda
Electricity and Lighting: Voltiled – Unipessoal, Lda
HVAC: NPTerm – Projectos e Instalações Térmica Lda
Lift: Eleve – Epicfuso, Lda
Landscape: Jardim Vista, S.A.
Location: Carvoeiro, Lagoa, Algarve
Country: Portugal

Sky Base One, a luxury residence in Carvoeiro, Portugal, designed by Bespoke Architects, embraces a unique blend of science fiction influence and Taoist philosophy. Completed in 2023, the design incorporates fractal geometry and the golden ratio, focusing on the seamless integration of architecture and nature. The elevated social areas, hidden garden, and infinity pool merge into the natural landscape, creating a space where form and function merge. A careful balance of materials and lighting further enhances the sensory experience within this innovative villa.

Sky Base One, designed by Bespoke Architects, emerged from the client’s desire to create a home inspired by cult science fiction films. This concept pushed the boundaries of traditional residential architecture, allowing the architects to reimagine how a home could connect with both the landscape and the inhabitants. The design was also influenced by Taoist philosophy, which guided the architectural language toward balance and harmony with nature.

Situated on a narrow plot in Carvoeiro, Portugal, Sky Base One overlooks the sea. The architects used a grid to optimize the layout, ensuring that southern views were maximized while maintaining privacy from neighboring properties. The villa’s social spaces are elevated above the private rooms, adding complexity and enhancing the dynamic relationship between the house and the landscape. A key feature is the elevated swimming pool, which visually interacts with the villa’s form while offering functional space for relaxation.

At the core of the villa is a circular space featuring a central lift. Skylights are designed to resemble technical hatches that slope inward toward the middle, creating a dramatic focal point at the highest point of the structure. The architectural geometry is grounded in fractal principles and the golden ratio, producing a harmonious, proportional aesthetic. To achieve a sense of lightness and weight simultaneously, the architects applied dark tones to the basement, allowing the upper portions of the villa to appear as if they were hovering above the ground.

The journey through Sky Base One begins at the entrance, where the path subtly reveals glimpses of the sea while leading toward a hidden garden. This deliberate progression heightens the experience of discovery and reflection. The main entrance then reveals the house’s centerpiece—a golden cylindrical column illuminated by sunlight from the skylight. The interplay of light and shadow adds warmth to the interior, as sunlight bounces off grey render walls embedded with shimmering particles.

Moving from the private bedroom corridors to the expansive social spaces, the design seamlessly integrates indoor and outdoor environments. The infinity pool, placed at the meeting point between the house and the landscape, merges visually with the sea, creating a sense of continuity with the natural surroundings. Privacy is maintained throughout the villa by the strategic positioning of the terrace, which shields views from neighboring homes and offers a peaceful outdoor retreat.

Lighting is a key element in defining the villa’s atmosphere, particularly at night. Floodlights illuminate the corridors and exterior, while the descending windows and brass accents on the lift and pool add subtle touches of refinement. Bespoke Architects crafted a lighting scheme that enhances the sense of otherworldliness while elevating the villa’s overall ambiance.

Sky Base One exemplifies the fusion of form, function, and experience. Its design encourages introspection while also providing spaces for social interaction. With careful attention to detail and materials, this villa offers a unique living environment that pushes the boundaries of contemporary residential architecture.