Image of My Model
Description
While designing this vacation house, I tried to respect the design inspiration requested by the ‘clients’. What I inferred from their appreciation for the Farnsworth House & Fallingwater, was that they had a desire for a strong view-to-nature design (addressed with views from all living areas with the exception of bathrooms), skewed towards a more modern aesthetic (design incorporated strong angularity & modern materiality with concrete), and were perhaps open to a more ‘performative’ design (where large windows can expose the interior activities). I kept those factors in mind and mixed them with my own ideas of what make a satisfying vacation house. The house has a split level and split function design, with the west side allocated for entertaining, cooking, and socializing, while the east side is almost entirely programmed for privacy and rest (this wing can be closed off, since there is a common bathroom accessible without entering it). With a vacation house, where one might be spending extended amounts of time with guests, I think it’s important to create an interesting space with small areas/moments of pause (like the interior courtyard), where people have the freedom to socialize or recharge on their own (incorporated the partitioned patios for a more private enjoyment of the views from the bedrooms). It’s important however, to also make sure that there’s a baseline functionality so that folks can focus on their R&R (There are lots of bathrooms in this house! Each bedroom/sleeping space has at least a toilet, and there are 2 common bathrooms available for use near each of the entry points). Extra note: moved the carport and storage room to the bottom level to allow for space flexibility—the bottom west side can kind of function as the home base for activities (with the mud room, storage room & bathroom), while the top level privileges leisure—the main living room on the bottom level is meant to be the nexus of activity or chill hangout spot throughout the day. The study takes the most circuitous path to be accessed for the guest who really wants to get away from the hubbub. With the shape of the west wing, I also wanted to lightly reference the traditional cabin.