What Is a Vertical Villa? A Terrace in Place of a Yard

A short definition

A vertical villa is an apartment in which a large terrace, light, view and open space matter as much in the architecture as the enclosed space, and the building benefits from shared amenities and management. "Apartment-villa" and "tower villa" are close names for it.

A terrace instead of a yard

In a detached villa the yard is at ground level. In a vertical villa, the terrace should be a place for breakfast, a dining table, plants, conversation, solitude and watching the sunset, not a narrow balcony to pass through. At Hess-e Zendegi, according to the project brochure, the terraces in the different types are about 17 to 35 square metres, and the plans are read so that the terrace is an extension of the living room.

What separates a vertical villa from an ordinary apartment?

The depth and dimensions of the terrace, its direct link to the living room, privacy, a stable view and the quality of light. If the terrace is only a strip along the facade, the name villa does not suit it. Judge these criteria on the plan and during a visit.

The limits of this idea

A vertical villa does not replace every villa. In a vertical villa, ownership of the land is not exclusive but shared; there is also no garden on the ground and no full independence. The idea is for someone who wants private open space, a view, amenities and managed upkeep.

An example: Hess-e Zendegi in Mahmoudabad

Hess-e Zendegi, with large terraces, seven plan types from 154 to 265 square metres (per the brochure), a rooftop pool and the managed services of Rokan Life, is an attempt to build this very idea at Darya 28. The interior and terrace images are architectural concept images, and construction photographs appear separately on the project page.

Who thinks most about a vertical villa?

A vertical villa is mostly for families who want open space and a view, but do not want the garden upkeep, security and building services of a detached villa. Someone who takes short, frequent stays benefits more from the building's shared management.

By contrast, if land ownership, a fully private yard or the possibility of adding space is a firm priority for you, a detached villa or a villa community is the better option.

Questions to ask before buying

What is the real depth of the terrace, and can a table and outdoor seating fit on it? Which direction does the terrace open to, and does it get direct sun in the afternoon? Is the view stable, or will future buildings block it? How are service charges and management costs determined?

Judge the answers to these questions on the plan and during a visit to the unit or a site sample, and ask for them in writing.

See also

• The vertical villa of Hess-e Zendegi
• Villa or coastal tower?

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