The initial brief for this project required a sanctuary from which to take in the alpine landscape, one that could engage with views of mountain ranges to all sides while offering protection from the harsh extremes of an alpine terrace. The scheme arranges four rectangular building forms around a central courtyard. Each of the buildings offers views to the landscape beyond. On inclement days the external perimeter can be closed and the courtyard opened to allow movement in an and out of the various spaces, on calm days the external perimeter can also be opened, transforming the house into a series of covered spaces open to the mountain vistas.
The programme uses four adjoining buildings to accommodate the various components of the house: a pair of guest rooms + a kitchen designed for social occasions; a dining space flanked by two sitting areas; the master suite, bathroom and library; and a reading room with mudroom, coats and garaging. The single level structures are set on a plinth that begins at ground level next to a gravelled arrival court and transitions to a floating ledge above the sloping terrain. Entry is gained through a glazed volume set between two of the buildings.
The house is a low profiled retreat perched in the open landscape. The architecture provides a diverse interplay of internal and exterior spaces all wrapped within a simple rectangular presence. The enclosure is formed in a palette of timber, steel, metal and stone, all darkened to a form a homogenous silhouette. Single pitched roof planes interact with one another to provide a sculptural terrain. (NB all interior fittings specified by interior designer)