ANCIENT & MODERN

Sas Built twenty years ago, this beguiling villa has a sense of history that comes from pieces dating back as far as the 13th century

- JULIET BENNING

Upon entering the courtyard of this Arizona villa designed by Oz Architects, the sense of therapeutic calm is beguiling. The sound of water bubbling from an old French wall fountain mingles with the distant crickets and chattering birds. Once shut, the reclaimed timber courtyard gates isolate this relaxing enclave from the rest of the world. ‘The quiet strength of the building has a calming effect. You feel that it’s going to be here for a long time. It’s serene on the inside and out. We did a lot of sound-proofing to ensure that external noises don’t interrupt the tranquillity,’ Inga Rehmann, the project’s lead interior designer explains.