Some houses have exteriors that are layered and light, looking lantern-like at certain times daily. The obverse of the notion 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 significant buildings are cave-like. The three illustrations collected here are rooted in position yet also soaring in spatial openness and in views.
Leicht Küchen AG
Belgium
This house, close to the Luxembourg border in Belgium, looks particularly imposing from the road, though the large picture window on the bottom floor and the band of windows over hint at the willingness inside.
Leicht Küchen AG
The rear elevation is the antithesis of the front all glass between the good side walls. The organization of the interior — two walls parallel to the side walls — is apparent from this viewpoint, where each big window is a glimpse into a separate area; it is like a cutaway section of a house.
Leicht Küchen AG
Here’s the view from the kitchen to 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. Notice how the silicon glazing of the glass opens up the opinion substantially by removing vertical framing members.
B+g design inc..
Colorado
This house, near Denver, is made of airplanes of concrete and metal panels. In particular, the former and its tough texture give the house a weighty presence.
B+g design inc..
The concrete extends to parts of the interior, including this hearth. It helps to give the house some solidity, but this view hints at the views beyond the house.
B+g design inc..
When many elevations utilize glass walls to frame views of the hills, it is on the roof that the combination of rooted and towering occurs. This seating area — alongside a fire, beneath a patio and with a gorgeous view — could easily be my favourite place in the house.
Studio Schicketanz
California
A house need not be covered in rock or constructed of concrete to become massive and rooted in place. This wood-clad house near San Francisco does so by being bermed to the landscape.
Studio Schicketanz
Here we can see the grass on the roof over, but in addition the massive glass walls forming either side of what’s the living area.
Studio Schicketanz
Indoors, under the undulating roof, we could see why full-height glazing is utilized. The doorways are in a less-than-ideal location relative to the seating area, but they do provide simple access to the patio.
Studio Schicketanz
The bedroom can be graced with full-height glazing and a corner window. With the Pacific horizon, it’s easy to forget how closely stitched the house is to the landscape.