
village verde
Sotogrande, Cádiz
2023
Located in the heart of La Reserva Club, Village Verde is more than just a residential development — it is a lifestyle proposal embedded within a Mediterranean ecosystem, where architectural design and landscape blend together in a natural and respectful way. Covering six hectares, the project prioritizes emotional connection with nature in an environment carefully shaped to coexist with native vegetation and the site’s original topography.
From the very first stages of the project, a detailed study of the existing woodland was conducted — particularly the cork oak, holm oak and wild olive trees that define the area. Far from being considered obstacles, these trees became the starting point of the design: All mature specimens were preserved, with building layouts adjusted to respect their presence. In cases where younger trees needed to be relocated, specialized transplanting techniques were used to ensure their survival. Even technical installations — such as service ducts and access routes — were rerouted or redesigned to avoid interfering with the deep roots of the century-old oaks.
The project’s ornamental vegetation is based on two key principles: adaptation to the Mediterranean climate and ecological continuity with the surrounding forest. Species such as gaura, centrantus, rosemary, lentisk, salvia, verbena, echium, and westringia were selected to enhance the natural atmosphere while minimizing irrigation needs.
This planting strategy is designed in layers, combining medium-sized trees, shrubs, and groundcovers, to create soft transitions between the built environment and the open landscape.
Village Verde is set on gently undulating terrain, which has allowed for a stepped design that respects natural contours and provides changing perspectives from every home. This topographic approach, combined with the preservation of large trees, allows the buildings to virtually disappear into the forest. The views are not dominated by architecture, but by greenery.
Pedestrian pathways wind through gardens and wooded areas, prioritizing walking, cycling, and interaction with the environment. There are no cars at street level: all vehicles are directed to underground garages, freeing up the surface for vegetation and social life.
The project's communal areas are conceived as inhabitable parks. They include sand-edged swimming pools, children's play zones shaded by trees, a putting green, jogging trails, yoga platforms, croquet lawns, and outdoor gyms nestled among the trees. Here, vegetation is not decorative — it is structural, functional, and an essential part of the daily use and experience of the space.