Designing a villa doesn’t start with a straight line or a blank sheet of paper.
It starts earlier.
It starts when someone dares to imagine how they want to live. And they ask the key question: “what if we built it our way?”
I’ve accompanied many clients at that exact moment. Some arrive with clear ideas, others only with feelings.
But they all have something in common: they’re not looking for just another house — they want a villa designed with judgment, personality and purpose.
Architectural design for villas is not a style. It’s a way of thinking. And if you’re here, you may already suspect that not every design works, not every house functions, and not every architect listens.
Why this guide can make a difference for your project
In this article I won’t speak in the abstract.
I won’t fill it with jargon or broad promises.
What you’re about to read comes from years designing bespoke villas on the Costa del Sol. What I explain here hasn’t been theorized — it’s been lived.
You will discover:
- What makes a design work (and why many fail before they’re even built).
- How to approach the architectural design of a villa without falling into empty trends.
- The technical, functional and emotional keys that make a villa feel like a home.
- How to combine aesthetics, climate, regulations and lifestyle into a coherent design.
- The role the architect plays in all of this — and why you shouldn’t dismiss them too early.
This text is written for people who value detail, reflection and craft. If that’s you, let’s get into what matters.
What defines good villa design
A well-designed villa isn’t the biggest — it’s the most liveable
Often the success of a design is confused with visual impact.
But I assure you: a pretty façade doesn’t fix a poor layout, nor does an infinity pool make up for a house that can’t breathe.
The success of a villa’s architectural design is measured over time:
- Does it still work well five years later?
- Does it adapt to your daily routines?
- Does it avoid dead zones and make the most of every square metre?
- Does it regulate light, temperature and sound effectively?
- Does it make you feel comfortable when you’re inside?
A well-thought-out villa has an internal coherence that can’t be improvised. It’s built from dialogue and experience.
Style matters, but personality weighs more
Yes, modern villa architecture has a lot to offer: clean lines, large windows, integration with the landscape.
But if everything boils down to copying what we’ve already seen a thousand times on Instagram, we’re missing the chance to create something personal.
Your villa should speak about you.
About how you live, what you value and how you understand comfort.
No two are the same. That’s why designing customised villas is a conversation, not a template.
The site changes everything
Designing on the Costa del Sol is a privilege… and a challenge.
Climate, topography, solar orientation, sea breezes, native vegetation — all of that is part of the design.
A villa is not imposed on the landscape. It integrates, adapts and dialogues with its surroundings.
And when it’s done well, it needs no explanation: it feels natural from the first step.
From the first stroke to the final result
Listen first: before the pencil, the conversation
Everything begins with an in-depth interview.
This is where I listen more and talk less.
I need to know what you expect from your villa, what you need today, what you foresee in ten years, what you won’t tolerate and what you prize like gold.
It’s surprising what can be discovered in that first conversation: a badly oriented window can ruin a morning routine; one unnecessary corridor can disconnect the house.
Designing well is anticipating. And to anticipate, you must first understand.
Creative process: translating life into space
Once I understand how you want to live, I begin to design.
Not with software or spectacular renders (that comes later), but with simple sketches, ideas and diagrams.
Here the essence of the design emerges.
How does movement flow?
Where does the light come in?
From which point is the sea visible?
Where is the noise cut off?
It’s not about inventing complex shapes, but about finding the simplest solution that resolves everything with elegance.
Technical coherence: beauty that works
Afterwards comes the moment to land the idea.
This is where materials, systems, energy efficiency and regulatory constraints come into play.
And yes, also the difficult decisions.
Is it worth investing in a passive climate control system?
Where can we optimise without compromising the result?
How do we avoid a design that is impossible to build?
Designing well also means knowing when to say no. And protecting the client from solutions that only look good on paper.
Details that make a difference: the hidden value of good workmanship
Solar orientation: the silent factor that defines comfort
On the Costa del Sol, the sun is a resource.
Using it well reduces consumption, improves comfort and transforms any room.
An east-facing bedroom completely changes the wake-up experience.
A south-facing terrace with the right shading extends its use throughout the year.
Interior-exterior connection: erasing boundaries
The villas I design aim to integrate the garden, the pool and outdoor areas as part of daily life.
They are not isolated backdrops but natural extensions of the living room, the dining room, even the bathroom.
Good design knows when to open, when to close, and when to let the landscape in.
Scalability: designing with the future in mind
Some build their villa as a temporary refuge. Others as a legacy.
In both cases, my job is to anticipate possible changes: spaces that can be reconfigured, areas that can grow without breaking the whole, materials that age gracefully.
What others have asked me just before deciding — maybe you need to hear it too
What’s the difference between designing a villa and a conventional house?
A villa demands more customization, more detail and a deeper dialogue between architecture and context.
The scale is larger, but above all the ambition is greater: you’re seeking a home that inspires, represents and endures.
Can I request changes during the process?
Yes, but timing is key.
During the preliminary design stage, everything is still flexible.
As we progress, changes become costlier or even unfeasible. That’s why a well-worked initial phase is fundamental.
How much does local regulation influence the design?
A lot.
Each municipality (Marbella, Estepona, Benahavís…) has its own rules.
There are height limits, setbacks, plot occupancy rules, tree protection… Designing without this in mind is designing outside reality. In my studio we include these constraints from the first sketch.
What if I’m not sure about the aesthetic I want?
That’s not a problem.
What matters is knowing how you want to feel in your home.
From there, the style emerges. We define it together, step by step, without impositions or forced labels.
What remains after the design
A well-designed villa is evident not only when you visit it, but when you live in it.
When there are no superfluous corners.
When every space fulfils its purpose.
When the landscape doesn’t just decorate but becomes part of the home.
My job isn’t only to draw what you dream. It’s to translate it into a language that can be built, that ages well, and that accompanies you quietly.
And if, after a few years, you call me back —not to fix something, but to thank me— then I’ll know we did the job well.
If you want that process to begin with you, you can get to know me better.
And if you’d like to see what we’ve already done with other clients who also started with a conversation, you can explore our completed projects.
Because when someone tells me what they feel — even between the lines — I know there’s a project there.
One worth designing with calm, respect and vision.
And if that project is yours, I’ll be delighted to start the conversation.
