Trapezoid
For this project, we were commissioned to design a residence-cum-atelier for a ceramic artist, located on sloping ground.
Working against strict building regulations –a plot ratio of 40%, a wall setback requirement of 2m from the road and 1m from the adjacent plot – we derived a trapezoid floor plan measuring 8 by 9m. At ground level, the protruding edge of the trapezoid gradually shifts inwards to become a square. This movement traces a ridge-like shape that forms the west-facing facade of the house. By whittling away the almost-square volume (measuring about 8m across) that emerges, we were able to create a space that integrates the interior with the exterior.
The overall layout of the house was more or less determined by requirements related to how the residence and atelier would function. We conceived of the atelier as an open space that could serve as a gallery and space for learning about ceramics and other cultural pursuits. By making use of the height differences across the site and creating a layered configuration with separate functions on the level that approaches the house, we managed to keep the atelier distinct from the residential zone. The first floor and basement were conceived as relatively public spaces, while the second and third storeys were designated private residential quarters. In addition, we created a number of both interior and exterior void spaces that would pierce vertically through the four horizontally stacked layers of the house. These voids established a sense of continuity across the four floors of the house that have been segregated by function, giving the entire building a sense of fluidity.
The ridge-like western facade of the house forces the void running through all four levels to the top part of the house, while the slanted glass surface that encloses the third floor terrace serves to draw the exterior of that portion inwards. These oblique lines produce obstructed lines of sight throughout the entire building, while the trapezoid form of the house helps to frame views of the landscape outside. When these slanting lines overlap with the balanced, symmetrical form of the house, they disrupt the viewer’s perception and experience of the space. The result is not a quiet, still environment typically found in minimal approaches, but rather a dynamic living space.
The thick, rigid-framed reinforced concrete structure gave us a free hand in determining the form of the building. For the outer cladding, we used boards made out of a titanium-zinc alloy to offer increased external insulation. Elsewhere, although we made use of common building materials like cement bricks and plywood, special efforts were taken to make additional modifications and give these materials a different look and a new lease of life.
