PERLA, a residential project by STIPFOLD, sits on a hillside in Marbella and approaches architecture through the idea of motion held in suspension. The client acquired a project already under submission, which restricted formal changes and limited structural intervention. Within these conditions, STIPFOLD directed the work toward a conceptual transformation.
RESIDENTIAL
The exterior defines this approach through a single gesture. The building takes the form of a breaking wave paused at its peak, rendered in fiber concrete. The material allows the surface to carry a sense of softness despite its solidity, creating a tension between weight and flow. From below, the structure reads as a suspended ripple, a volume that appears detached from the ground while remaining anchored to it. Natural stone forms the base, connecting the building to the terrain and stabilizing its presence. The white finish maintains a light visual character, aligning the structure with its coastal setting.
This composition relies on controlled contrast between form and material. The curved surface introduces movement, while the stone base establishes a fixed point. The building holds these elements in balance, allowing the overall structure to read as both grounded and fluid. The gesture remains singular and continuous, avoiding fragmentation and maintaining focus on the primary form.
Inside, the project develops the same language through surface and line. Beige fiber concrete walls carry parametric patterns that follow a flowing geometry, extending the movement established on the exterior. These lines guide the eye through the space, creating a sense of continuity that links each room. The palette remains restrained, limited to white, sand, and pale wood, which supports a quiet visual environment.
The custom kitchen island follows the same curved logic as the walls, while ceiling lines extend the geometry across the interior. These decisions create a continuous sequence rather than isolated rooms, where transitions occur through shifts in light and surface.
PERLA reflects STIPFOLD’s broader direction as a studio working across different contexts. The project introduces its sculptural minimal approach within a Mediterranean setting, adapting its language without altering its core principles.
Function remains direct and resolved, supporting daily use without distraction. At the same time, the form carries a distinct presence that engages perception through movement held in place. The project builds its identity through a precise relationship between surface, structure, and light.
Project Team: Beka Pkhakadze, George Bendelava, Nini Komurjishvili, Luka Chiteishvili, Nikusha Kharabadze
Location: Marbella, Spain
Type: Residential House
Area: 400 m²
Year: 2025
Status: Design Development
