LAGOON VILLA, ABIDJAN, CÔTE D’IVOIRE: A MODERNIST RETREAT

Where Abidjan’s vibrant urban pulse meets the serene expanse of the Ébrié Lagoon, Lagoon Villa emerges as a masterful study in architectural harmony. Designed by SAOTA with interiors by Claude Missir, the residence pays tribute to Abidjan’s modernist architectural legacy while responding sensitively to the demands of contemporary living and the unique qualities of its site. More than a family home, Lagoon Villa occupies a coveted waterfront position, creating an effortless dialogue between structure and nature—blurring the traditional boundaries between indoors and out.

The design was guided by the client’s vision to strengthen the home’s relationship with the lagoon and its lush surroundings. One of the villa’s defining features is its permeable roof, composed of concrete beams interspersed with skylights that allow natural light to filter through—recalling the dappled sunlight beneath a canopy of trees. This architectural gesture, paired with tiered courtyards that cascade toward the water, dissolves the threshold between inside and outside, embodying SAOTA’s philosophy of integrating landscape and architecture. Set within a verdant, park-like garden, the villa appears to float within its environment.

Responding to West Africa’s tropical climate, SAOTA introduced generous overhangs for shade and expansive sliding glass doors that invite the lagoon breeze into the heart of the home. This interplay of openness and shelter ensures interiors remain cool, tranquil, and intimately connected to the outdoors.

Throughout the villa, transitional spaces are meticulously designed to both engage with and protect from the natural elements—balancing comfort, aesthetic refinement, and environmental consciousness. Passive design strategies, including cross-ventilation and the strategic use of natural light, reduce reliance on artificial cooling while enriching the interior atmosphere with warmth and luminosity.

Under the creative direction of Claude Missir, the interiors exude understated elegance and soulful restraint. His vision infuses the home with refined practicality and emotional depth, creating a seamless dialogue with SAOTA’s architecture. The result is a residence that feels both cohesive and alive—every texture, color, and line in thoughtful conversation with its surroundings.

Missir reflects:

“The indoor colours were taken from the surrounding landscape, so it feels as if the inside and outside merged in a natural way. When you open yourself to new challenges and ideas—daring colours, forms, and materials—the outcome will often surprise you.”

Materials such as exposed concrete, flamed granite, and glass reinforce the home’s modernist character, combining durability with timeless sophistication.

Abidjan, long a nucleus of architectural experimentation and modernist expression, continues to evolve as a design capital. Lagoon Villa encapsulates this spirit—merging bold contemporary form with deep respect for place. In collaboration, SAOTA and Claude Missir have created not just a home, but a modernist retreat that bridges nature, family, and the vibrant urban rhythm of Abidjan