Interview about House Elvesgarden Privat Residence, winner of the A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award 2021
The project was an attempt to create something powerful without being loud. A sensitive place that gives tranquility and offers various perspectives to the surrounding nature. It is all about light and the countless approaches to its counterpart: the shadow. The house was build for a young widow as a retreat for her soul. The atmosphere is influenced by the Japanese culture of semi dark shadowed rooms where the colors seem damped and the glow comes from within. A world where darkness is full of warmth and profound colorfulness.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsThe project is an attempt to create something powerful without being loud. A sensitive place that renders tranquillity and offers various perspectives to the surrounding nature at all seasons.The key issue is an architecture deeply connected with nature, developed and set in context to the native forest like landscape. Any architecture needs to be deeply bound to nature and the change of light.
It is all about light and the countless approaches to its counterpart: the shadow. Large glass openings to the west and east terraces connect to the garden, vertical openings to the south let direct sunlight in the depth of the room. Green light filtered by large trees is reflected by the shiny bronze plastered fireplace und the glossy painted ceilings. The play of shadows is absorbed at the inner grass wallpaper covered walls and the dark toned oak floor.
Entering the gravelled entrance courtyard from the street in the west corner of the property, you leave the outside world behind. One Catalpa tree placed to frame the house cast it’s shadow on two huge subtle positioned stonewalls that guide to the entrance of the house and hide the main garden space from the street. Winding stepping stones carefully set lead to the canyon like entrance of the main house. Directly opposite t you see a small” elves gate” that invites visitor for a stroll in the garden if you accept the invitation and follow the stepping stones.
The garden has been planned as a delicate overlap of nature and architecture . The modern house was only planned afterwards to extend its interior into outdoor spaces,to react to or even create different magic gardenspaces.
The fireplace as a centerpiece has been woven into the heart of the site reflecting FLW believe that the building should be one piece with the land and not simply popped down on top of it. Like an ancor in the open plan space bringing weight with its plinth and reflecting the filtered garden light on its shiny brass surface
In most cases the artistic value of the garden is proportionate to the degree of simplification carried out. A sense of flow and movement and last but not least an understanding of the seasons and the use of natural materials.
The creation of gardens is understood first and foremost as an attempt to reengage with Nature and her inherent spiritual calmness, the house was planned to exist as a delicate overlap of nature and architecture
The merging of the exterior and interior spaces through the use of natural materials by large trees filtered green is reflected inside by the shiny bronze plastered fireplace and the glossy painted ceilings. The harsh sunlight outside is absorbed by the green; The play of shadows is absorbed inside at the dark toned oak floor and the walls covered with grass wallpaper. The atmosphere is influenced by the Japanese culture of semi dark shadowed rooms, where the colours seem damped and the glow comes from within. A world where darkness is full of warmth and profound colourfulness
Facing south, the very long elevation is mostly closed. Two vertical openings let direct sunlight in the depth of the room. Facing west large Spider legs filter the western golden light in the afternoon. All room have different garden views and answers to the different daylight.
The spirit of the garden is evolving to a natural understanding of gardening there is something calm and delectable in this garden without an obvious spiritual signification The art of creating spaces that touch your heart is my destiny as gardener and architect.The new age of easy living has ended The world is little optimistic but aggressively egoistic my architecture presents its face to the world that could be described as discreetly and shielded All architecture that does not express serenity fails in its spiritual mission
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