Annika Feuss Shows Off A Perfect Vacation Villa in the Portuguese Countryside

This article highlights the architectural photography of Annika Feuss, showcasing her work on Villa Extramuros, a hotel in Arraiolos, Portugal. The series of photographs, taken seven years prior to the article's publication, demonstrates the enduring quality of well-executed spec projects. Feuss initiated this project three years into her career as an architecture photographer, driven by a desire to capture the villa's unique atmosphere and design. Feuss spent three days photographing the villa, emphasizing the importance of ample time for capturing specific moments, particularly during twilight. She describes the villa as a magical place, noting its perfect furnishings and serene ambiance, which made it an ideal subject for photography. The article features an image of the villa's common area, where Feuss's perspective effectively conveys the space's length and its design elements that promote privacy. The interplay of long shadows and natural light from large windows adds visual depth and indicates the time of day. Another photograph captures the villa's rooftop, characterized by a labyrinth of walls and shapes. Subtle shadows enhance the rectilinear forms, creating a three-dimensional effect. The inclusion of greenery in the foreground introduces organic shapes and a calming color, contrasting with the architecture's rigid lines. Feuss explains her deliberate approach to selecting subjects within the villa, aiming to find unique perspectives that had not been published before. She also recounts her concern about the weather during her November shoot, as sunlight was crucial for illuminating the property's design, a worry that fortunately proved unfounded. One of Feuss's favorite images from the series is an abstract shot that combines the sky with the villa's graphic facade, creating a striking contrast. She praises the villa's architecture, noting its graphic nature and how it harmoniously contrasts with the wild surrounding landscape. Cutouts in the facade offer framed views of the hilly terrain. Feuss particularly values the light conditions in November, where lower sun angles produce a colder, more beautiful light, especially during the brief period after sunset when the sky displays stunning color gradients without harsh shadows. The article also showcases a photograph that embodies these elements: the villa's graphic shape and a cutout that directs the viewer's eye towards a serene sunset over the mountains. The color palette of pale blues, oranges, deep green, and black accents creates a balanced and inviting scene. Feuss shares a technical aspect of her process, explaining her use of stitching multiple images taken with a tilt/shift lens in Photoshop. This technique allowed her to capture a wider field of view without resorting to an extremely wide-angle lens. The article concludes with an image highlighting the villa's unique architectural cutouts, which frame the sky and create a harmonious blend of blue and white, complemented by warm lighting, reinforcing the villa's appeal as a vacation destination. #architecturalPhotography #VillaExtramuros #AnnikaFeuss #Portugal #vacationVilla #specProject #architecturalDesign #interiorPhotography #exteriorPhotography #architecturalPhotography #VillaExtramuros #AnnikaFeuss #Portugal #vacationVilla #specProject #architecturalDesign #interiorPhotography #exteriorPhotography