Lake Sense Mamanu Totonu o le Villa by If Design

Lake Sense Mamanu Totonu o le Villa by If Design is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Ario in Mamanu Totonu Competition Category.

ArioTotonu· 2026

Lake Sense Mamanu Totonu o le Villa

by If Design

Client: If Design

A' Design Award Ario Winner in Totonu Category

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Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #181526

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Lake Sense Mamanu Totonu o le Villa

O le Lake Sense o le mamanu totonu lea o se villa faaputuputu maualalo le mamafa e 515 sikuea mita, o loo tu i tafatafa o se vaituloto i Wuhan, Saina. O se lotoa tumaoti e tusa ma le 200 sikuea mita e faalautele atu ai vaega o le nofoaga i fafo. O pu faamalamalama ua fausia faapitoa e aumai ai le malamalama o le ao i le fogafale i lalo o le eleele. O tioata mai le fola i le faalo e fesootai ai le totonu ma le lotoa faapea le vaaiga i le vaituloto. O le uamea uliuli e le pala, maamora, laupapa laulaau ma le vali faatusaina e fausia ai ni fogaeleele faapipiiina. O le fuafuaga ua faavae i le olaga masani o lotoa ma lagolagoina ai le olaga faaleaiga faapea faatasiga faaagafesootai.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Ario

O le A' Design Award Ario na manumalo ai Lake Sense Mamanu Totonu o le Villa, o se faamaoniga matuā mamalu e tuuina atu i mamanu sili ona lelei, matagofie ma mataʻutia. O ē manumalo i le Ario o galuega susulu tele ma fatufatuaʻi e faaalia ai le poto, le taleni ma le atamai o tagata mamanu. E faamoemoeina Lake Sense Mamanu Totonu o le Villa e avea ma galuega matagofie, o se fesuiaiga mo isi, e iloga i le tomai faapolofesa ma mea fou loloto. O lenei mamanu na manumalo i le A' Design Award Ario o se mea e iloga, ua mataʻina e aogā ma tuleia atu tapulaʻa o le faatufugaga, saienisi, mamanu ma tekonolosi. Lake Sense Mamanu Totonu o le Villa o se mea e fiafia i ai le toatele, e fafagu ai manaʻoga, aumaia ai lagona lelei ma tupu ai le ofo.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: This 515 square meters low density stacked villa redefines urban lakeside living by integrating Oriental cultural aesthetics with modern metropolitan functionality. Through light wells, a 200 square meters private courtyard, and seamless indoor outdoor transitions, the design resolves underground lighting constraints while balancing luxury and intimacy. Material contrasts and multi dimensional spatial scenarios establish a refined yet experiential residential paradigm.
Dimensions & Packaging: Total Area: 515 square meters
Private Courtyard: approx. 200 square meters
Typology: Low density stacked villa with underground level
Key Features: Light well daylight system, large scale floor to ceiling glazing, hollow wall detailing, integrated storage systems, intelligent lighting control, aromatherapy system
Primary Materials: Stainless steel, marble, metal, wood veneer, textured paint
Tags: Lakeside Residence, Oriental Aesthetics, Light Well Design, Low Density Villa, Indoor-Outdoor Integration, Cultural Contextualism, Luxury Residential Design, Courtyard Living, Contemporary Minimalism
Production Technology: The project employs stainless steel, brown wood veneer, beige textured paint, marble, and metal to construct layered tactility. Light well engineering introduces vertical daylight penetration to underground spaces. Custom-built storage systems, integrated wine cabinets, aromatherapy systems, and intelligent lighting control enhance spatial efficiency and user experience. Precision detailing ensures material durability and long term structural performance.
Design Challenge: The main challenge was resolving insufficient underground lighting while maintaining luxury and spatial intimacy. Cultural interpretation without superficial replication required careful balance between tradition and modernity. Structural constraints and urban density limited spatial expansion. Through light well systems, glazing strategies, and refined material layering, the project successfully unified nature, culture, and contemporary residential performance.
Research: This project is based on applied spatial-cultural research exploring how Oriental courtyard living can adapt to contemporary urban villas. Through site analysis, daylight simulation, and lifestyle mapping, the design examined lighting efficiency and functional adaptability. Findings show that integrating light wells with cultural spatial strategies significantly improves underground usability and residential comfort, offering a sustainable model for high-end urban housing.
Inspiration: Inspired by Wuhan's dual identity as the cradle of Chu Culture and a modern industrial hub, the design draws from the Yangtze Han river ecology and South Lake's tranquil scenery. The philosophy of "Oriental Seclusion, Future Elegance" merges traditional courtyard living with contemporary lifestyles. Cultural heritage, natural rhythm, and metropolitan vitality collectively informed the spatial narrative and aesthetic direction.
Project Duration: The project started in April 2025 and finished in January 2026 in China.
Operation Flow: The spatial flow transitions naturally from public to private zones. The integrated living dining area supports both daily family use and social gatherings. Light wells bring daylight into the underground level, enhancing comfort. Floor to ceiling windows connect the courtyard and lake views to interior spaces, allowing residents to experience seasonal changes, light variation, and spatial transformation in everyday living.
Image Credits: Image #1: Photographer Chuyituzi, One Thousand Degrees Image, Lake Sense, 2026.
Image #2: Photographer Chuyituzi, One Thousand Degrees Image, Lake Sense, 2026.
Image #3: Photographer Chuyituzi, One Thousand Degrees Image, Lake Sense, 2026.
Image #4: Photographer Chuyituzi, One Thousand Degrees Image, Lake Sense, 2026.
Image #5: Photographer Chuyituzi, One Thousand Degrees Image, Lake Sense, 2026.