CREDITS: 1.00 LU/HSW
Course DescriptionThe course examines an example of contemporary architecture with a strong visual impact set in lush countryside. The curving villa is constructed using natural materials, creating a strong architectural identity that dialogues with its natural setting with originality and elegance. The project is important for understanding how design can produce a building that meets the demands of contemporary living in terms of comfort, livability, and the use of space. The course includes images and technical drawings, and provides construction details with explanatory legends. On completing the course, students will be able to discuss how design approaches should reflect the natural environment, and how the design and layout of the functions in a home can alter relative to the needs of users.
Learning Objectives – after reading the article and studying the drawings, you will be able to:
- Describe the measures taken so that the villa, with its striking appearance, fits harmoniously into its natural setting with minimal environmental impact, and discuss how the architects optimized the available space to make the building the least “invasive” possible.
- Analyze the importance of communication between the client, architect, and builder to fully respond to the needs of a building’s users.
- Examine the aspects of the project that combine high standards of comfort with respect for the environment, and explain how the interaction between the architecture and its landscape is pivotal to the project.
- Analyze the materials used to construct the villa, including its structural components, sun-shading, and finishes, assessing the comfort levels of the rooms in terms of their functional aspects.