Shining Star By the Lake by Merle Wilkening | 1st December, 2023 | Prime Properties

This architectural masterpiece is all the more beautiful thanks to its surroundings. Villa Les Tourelles is set on the banks of Lake Geneva, with landscaped grounds descending to the shoreline. This is Swiss living in an exclusive class of its own. Text: Merle WilkeningVilla Les Tourelles near Geneva is a glorious amalgamation of gleaming silver façade, glass and limestone.Breakfast by the pool or a dip in the lake? There are plenty of options here. The beautiful grounds also feature an historic bath house.Opening your eyes here on a morning, you are greeted by a marvellous expanse of shimmering blue water. Just several steps down from the main property, Lake Geneva lies at your feet, with the peaks of Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn rising up mightily in the distance. Even from the outside, Villa Les Tourelles near the village of Genthod, less than ten kilometres from the centre of Geneva, is an impressive sight to behold: a spectacular blend of gleaming silver façade, glass and light limestone. With its high windows facing out towards the lake and its angular forms, the house has a sculptural quality set amid its pristine green surroundings. The estate is set over almost 6,000 square metres of land and was built back in 2011 by the award-winning architectural firm SAOTA. Headquartered in Cape Town, this studio is behind top projects realised on six continents. Just alongside the main entrance with an imposing front door made from embossed stainless steel, a ramp leads down to a large garage. The open plan entrance sets the scene for the grand spaciousness within the villa, leading through to the living spaces: two commodious lounges with window fronts that enjoy sweeping views of the lake and lofty ceilings that give the scenery even more space to impress. One particular highlight in the grand salon is the suspended fireplace, which hangs from the ceiling like a black column. The kitchen extends parallel to the dining room with its long window frontage, while a dividing wall clad with Black Nero Maraquina shields both areas from one another without comprising the glorious outside view. A bar and guest bathrooms round off this level. A glass lift connects all three levels, leading to the private quarters on the upper floor: two bedrooms and the master suite complete with its own bathroom, which radiates in lemon yellow contrasting with a black marble bathtub overlooking the lake. Walnut wall cladding and discreetly concealed built-in cabinets can be found throughout. The ground floor is currently used as an office, and there is another bedroom featuring a small kitchen and a bathroom with shower. The lower floor of the villa is a dedicated oasis of relaxation, featuring an indoor pool, sauna and hammam. A separate annex with sleeping quarters, a living room, bathroom and sun terrace serves as an incredibly comfortable retreat for guests.The garden grounds lead down to the waterfront and boast ancient trees, various sun terraces and an outdoor pool. One special gem on the estate is the historic 19th century bath house set directly on the lakefront, which is reminiscent of a fortress with its two towers. The name of the villa, “Les Tourelles”, meaning “little towers” in French, comes from this pavilion. The property is supplied by six geothermal wells, which serve all hot water and heating on the estate. A large utility room houses all of the estate’s technical installations. Ensuring comfort for inhabitants throughout the year, air cooling is installed inside the villa, in addition to a home automation system. Underground and overground parking offers the convenience of ten parking spaces in total.