House A
Inside-out look and feel
Almost imperceptibly, the home disappears into the landscape. In fact, it is created out of the landscape. The building and its surroundings originate from each other in an almost organic way. Just a few windows give the illusion that there is more. Orange trees grow in clusters on the estate. The terrain’s natural slopes were left untouched. The existing paved terraces form the foundation for the villa, that looks like it arose from the rubble stone walls that cut through the parcel.
The villa was designed so that it could offer its residents the best views and as much sunshine and light as possible. In addition, it is positioned with its back to the occasional heavy winds that come from the valley. In a similar protective gesture, the house embraces a central patio featuring an outdoor fireplace and a large pergola offering shade. This embracing gesture creates an immaterial outdoor living space.
Blurring borders
The terraces’ topology is the basis of the building. While that natural levelling sets a basic rhythm, the house incorporates the existing walls that run across the terrain. Surrounded by these retaining walls, the house emerges like a cross between a traditional castle and a contemporary Spanish hacienda.
In the south, the climate invites you to go out. The villa’s objective is to blur the border between indoor and outdoor spaces. The interior and exterior reinforce each other. At every level. From the location to the orientation and materials used. With this project, we want to show that architecture does not stop at the shell, but one’s attitude towards the interior is also a contributing factor for the building’s total experience.
