MoDus Architects – Sandy Attia, Matteo Scagnol

Description

The pentagonal form of the house fans outwards from the structural core of the stairwell to provide sweeping views across the landscape. With no front or back, the house reveals a rotating continuum of living spaces that is accompanied by the varied conditions of the site. From the Isarco Valley, through to the nearby meadows, up to the woods, and across the close-knit settlement of the small, hillside town of Cleran, the South Tyrolean landscape is ever-present. The floor to ceiling windows pull the outside in, allowing the changing colours and textures of the seasons to become part of the daily lives of the family. The owners stated that they were looking for a house where they «could breathe»; it was to be spacious without being too big and it was to be open without compromising the privacy of each family member. In short, the house was to provide a sense of freedom. Taking advantage of the sloped site, the ground-floor level cantilevers outwards to create a dramatic living space — a space of airy comfort and well-being. The seamless continuity of the warm grey floors is contrasted by the taut vibration of the planked, cedar ceiling. The wooden canopy of the locally sourced cedarwood plays off the geometry of the house and integrates the wooden finish-work with the mechanical and lighting infrastructure to form one unified system.