VILLA MAIREA PROGRAM STUDIES - MODELS

Model of South West conservatory wing.
Winter Garden and Public Area slide out of model
to allow analysis of column grid and free plan shape
of public area.

Column analysis of South West wing.

Columns modelled at 1:10 and to show cladding types which are used in a deliberate system whether the column is in a private or public zone, on the external wall on in the central space.

Plain columns to exterior walls in Winter Garden (white), Library (black)and alongside staircase (black)- that is in private or the obscure public area alongside the staircase.

Columns clad in vertical Birch strips placed on external walls in south west sitting area as singles or in a group of 3 and create a boundary to the sitting area.

Columns with rattan horizontal cladding are placed in the central area on east west axis and each one or group relates to more than one space - for example the central circulation zones and various sitting areas

Proposition Model - A Kit of Volumes

The interlocking volumes packed in a

box represent 3 volumes:

Public Volume

Private Volume

Landscape Volume

When interlocked, the volumes form a cube

although can be manipulated vertically

and horizontally to address specific briefs.

VILLA MAIREA PROGRAM STUDIES - ANALYSIS OF FURNISHINGS, ARTWORK AND LIGHTING

Floor Rugs are placed around seating and circulation areas to create both intimate zones within the free plan and also a flow through the transitions zones. For example there is a row of rugs between the Fire place area and Dining Room and a large long rug in the area that connects the two sitting areas and the winter garden.






Furniture is placed in groups to form intimate zones
within the free plan. Each group is bordered by a
combination of walls and columns.





Artwork is an integral component of the Villa Mairea
interior and as well as the client's abundant
collection of paintings and sculptures, Alto's
fireplace detail and ornamented columns also
contribute to the collection.



The ceiling within the 'conservatory' area of Villa Mairea is largely lined with timber and in the public area there is only one instance of ceiling lights which is a low pendant over the coffee table of the south west sitting area. The lighting is otherwise created with floor and table lamps which create ambience within the seating areas as well as preserving the timber lined ceiling as perhaps another sculptural element. There are ceiling mounted lights and ceiling pendants within the entry and dining hall areas.

VILLA MAIREA PROGRAM STUDIES - CIRCULATION

Circulation controlled by Furniture
Placement which create more intimate
areas within the larger free plan.

The central core could be shown as two axes with interior events at either end. Axis one runs between the Fire Place sitting area and the Dining Hall and Axis Two between the stairs from the Entry to the intimate grouping alongside the winter Garden entry. Each event includes both artwork and lighting.

The public area, positioned on the diagonal and reflecting the direction of the ridge on which the house is positioned has a strong connection with the landscape. Both sitting areas connect directly with their adjacent landscapes (Red Lines)and also from certain seating positions connect with the opposite landscape (Blue Lines)

VILLA MAIREA PROGRAM STUDIES - STRUCTURE

The Villa Mairea South West wing structure is supported by a grid of columns.

The columns are articulated in several configurations. The columns have been ornamented with different materials: Black or White Paint, Rattan wrapped horizontally around single and double columns and Birch strips fixed vertically onto columns which are placed either individually or in a group of 3.

There are historical column precendents for both vertical ornamentation and groupings of columns as shown in the Images below.

The birch clad columns in Villa Mairea reflect the classic flutting of the Roman Column and the classic groupings are reflected in Villa Maireas groups of 2 and 3 columns.