3 Modern Homes That Are Rooted Yet Soar
These heavyweight houses show that solid looks can be deceiving, as they inspire a sense of wide-open wonder
Houzz Contributor. I am an architect and writer living in New York City. I have Bachelor of Architecture and Master in Urban Planning degrees, and over ten years experience in architectural practice, split between Chicago and NYC. Currently I'm focused on writing and online pursuits. My daily blog can be found at http://archidose.blogspot.com
Houzz Contributor. I am an architect and writer living in New York City.... More »
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Some homes have exteriors that are light and layered, looking lantern-like at certain times of day. The obverse of this idea is houses with heavy walls that are predominantly solid, rooting the building in place or at least giving the appearance of such. Beyond looks, buildings with materials that are heavy and solid exude existential character by inviting touch and creating intimate spaces that shelter us and our daydreams.
Yet not all heavy buildings are cave-like. The three examples collected here are solidly rooted in place yet also soaring in spatial openness and in views.
Yet not all heavy buildings are cave-like. The three examples collected here are solidly rooted in place yet also soaring in spatial openness and in views.
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| Belgium This house, near the Luxembourg border in Belgium, looks particularly imposing from the street, though the large picture window on the ground floor and the band of windows above hint at the openness inside. |
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| The rear elevation is the antithesis of the front: all glass between the solid side walls. The organization of the interior — two walls parallel to the side walls — is clear from this view, where each large window is a glimpse into a separate room; it's like a cutaway section of a house. |
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| Here is the view from the kitchen on the ground floor to the backyard. The lines of the kitchen island and drop ceiling parallel those of the pool outside, reinforcing the direction of the view. Note how the silicon glazing of the glass opens up the view considerably by eliminating vertical framing members. |
by b+g design inc.
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Colorado
This house, near Denver, is made of planes of concrete and metal panels. In particular, the former and its rough texture give the house a weighty presence.
This house, near Denver, is made of planes of concrete and metal panels. In particular, the former and its rough texture give the house a weighty presence.
by b+g design inc.
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The concrete extends to parts of the inside, including this hearth. It helps to give the house some solidity, but this view hints at the views outside of the house.
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by b+g design inc.
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| While many elevations use glass walls to frame views of the mountains, it's on the roof that the combination of rooted and soaring occurs. This seating area — next to a fire, under a terrace and with a gorgeous view — would easily be my favorite spot in the house. |
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| California A house need not be covered in stone or built of concrete to be massive and rooted in place. This wood-clad house near San Francisco does so by being bermed into the landscape. |
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| Here we can see the grass on the roof above, but also the large glass walls forming two sides of what is the living room. |
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| Inside, under the undulating roof, we can see why full-height glazing is used. The doors are in a less-than-ideal location relative to the seating area, but they do provide easy access to the terrace. |
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| The bedroom is also graced with full-height glazing and a corner window. With the Pacific horizon beckoning, it's easy to forget how strongly anchored the house is to the landscape. |
Ideabook published on Dec. 4, 2012.
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