Observación

house. The architect has also fashioned the circulation pattern of this house in a counterclockwise direction, as was the case in the early houses designed by Le Corbusier.

Above: Decorative details and projec-Decorative details and projec-tions have been carefully avoided on the tions have been carefully avoided on the simple exterior of the house, in contrast to simple exterior of the house, in contrast to its more ostentatious neighbors, and the its more ostentatious neighbors, and the placement of windows gives no hint of the placement of windows gives no hint of the complexity of the spatial interior complexity of the spatial interior arrange-ments condensed into the neat cubic form.

ments condensed into the neat cubic form.

Opposite: The kitchen is visible through The kitchen is visible through the glass wall of the living room. The the glass wall of the living room. The light-ing fixture on the left, called Lucellino, ing fixture on the left, called Lucellino, was designed by Ingo Maurer in 1992, and was designed by Ingo Maurer in 1992, and is handcrafted from goose feathers. The is handcrafted from goose feathers. The INCISA chair by De Padova in the elevated INCISA chair by De Padova in the elevated library on the right, is another modern library on the right, is another modern clas-sic, and was designed by Vico Magistretti.

sic, and was designed by Vico Magistretti.

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Above: Looking back toward the entrance, the door to the master Looking back toward the entrance, the door to the master bedroom is visible on the left and, opposite it, the door to the bedroom is visible on the left and, opposite it, the door to the bath-room. Lack of fussy detailing and the clean lines of exposed concrete, room. Lack of fussy detailing and the clean lines of exposed concrete, steel, and tinted glass create a sense of calm in the foyer. The ceiling steel, and tinted glass create a sense of calm in the foyer. The ceiling is made of wood.

is made of wood.

Right: The spiral spatial arrangement around the house’s open core is The spiral spatial arrangement around the house’s open core is defined by turns in the staircase leading to the upper floor. The living defined by turns in the staircase leading to the upper floor. The living room and library are delineated by gray-green translucent glass walls room and library are delineated by gray-green translucent glass walls that reflect each other. The sofa in the living room was designed by that reflect each other. The sofa in the living room was designed by Le Corbusier in 1929, and was at that time called “the most famous Le Corbusier in 1929, and was at that time called “the most famous chair of the century.’’

chair of the century.’’

Above: The foyer has been designed like a The foyer has been designed like a domadoma, the informal space , the informal space in a traditional Japanese farmhouse which usually had a packed in a traditional Japanese farmhouse which usually had a packed earthen floor and was used by people to leave their shoes and heavy earthen floor and was used by people to leave their shoes and heavy farm tools before entering the more formal parts of the house. In farm tools before entering the more formal parts of the house. In keeping with modern times, this space is used here for storing the keeping with modern times, this space is used here for storing the owners’ surfboards. The doors to the master bedroom and the owners’ surfboards. The doors to the master bedroom and the bath-room are located past the foyer. The staircase, made of folded steel room are located past the foyer. The staircase, made of folded steel plates resembling crisp folded paper, is supported on a single exposed plates resembling crisp folded paper, is supported on a single exposed stringer beam.

stringer beam.

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The plans of the house show how each space is The plans of the house show how each space is located at a different level in a counterclockwise located at a different level in a counterclockwise direction. Skillful design makes the total floor direction. Skillful design makes the total floor area of 82.78 square meters appear a lot more area of 82.78 square meters appear a lot more spacious than it actually is.

spacious than it actually is.

Right: The photograph here reveals how the The photograph here reveals how the various spaces, separated from each other various spaces, separated from each other sim-ply by large sheets of gray-green glass, produce ply by large sheets of gray-green glass, produce a kaleidoscope of reflections and views.

a kaleidoscope of reflections and views.

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Project Name Here 165

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