A bold, formally adventurous, concrete shell designed by Johnston Marklee conceals a polished interior realm in Rosario, Argentina.
The View House is designed under conditions generated by both the potential and limitations of large suburban developments.The design is driven by two conflicting desires: engaging the living experience of the house with the views of the surrounding landscape and preserving privacy from neighbors.
Planning demands and the unique position of the peripheral corner lot demanded a specific approach to the massing of the house and its engagement with the landscape. A compact massing strategy with a minimal footprint liberates and preserves the ground, defining a two story structure. By denying the traditional front, side, and rear yard designations, and instead intensifying the facade as a surface that continuously modulates the relationship of interior to exterior, the perception of the house unfolds through a sequence of oblique views where every surface of façade becomes primary.
In the interior, these operations define a continuous and modulated space that spirals upwards from the ground level to the roof terrace in a sequence of living areas. The four geometric subtractions have differentiated volumetric impressions on the inside of the house, each of which, together with a contiguous aperture, results in an interior landscape of paired surfaces, views, and lighting effects.
“Designed for an ecologically rich site on the Argentine plains near Rosario, this 3,000 square foot house optimizes a compact dwelling space by maximizing the experience of the surrounding views and prioritizing environmental performance. The taurus shape creates expansive spaces by layering volume and view within and throughout the house. The siting, orientation and form of the house minimize dependence on mechanical systems, making use of natural light, air flow, and alternative energy systems to create a dynamic living experience directly engaged with the local site conditions.”
