HOME AT THE END OF THE EARTH

The house at the end of the earth is no longer a utopia. Many people dream of settling on the edge of the earth, but until recently it was difficult for romantics to make their dream come true - they simply did not build a dwelling on the cliffs. Meanwhile, the request for a secluded, but at the same time, modern and comfortable housing made me rethink the approach to the design of a residential building and decided to design a residential building in the mountains for a basejumper.

While exploring the area, I was captivated by the strength and at the same time the pliability of the rocks surrounding the future house, and the idea to fit it into the landscape was finally formed. House at the End of the Earth - a design project for a house sunk into the rock. A residential building in the mountains is sunk into the rock so as not to disturb the natural appearance of the landscape. The house and the rock flow into each other, while remaining self-sufficient. The only visible wall is a huge window of several floors. Panoramic glazing opens up views of the mountain range and blurs the line between indoor and outdoor spaces. The vertical dominant of the stairs permeates the interior volume and creates a dramatic atmosphere. All other sides of the building are adjacent to the rock. The space of the house, smoothly flowing between zones and levels, is not weighted down by walls and doors. The cantilevered balconies are ideal viewing platforms.

Glazed openings in the roof provide additional natural light, partially show the interior of the house, and make it possible to observe the starry night sky at night. To ensure snow melting in winter, it is worth using a heated glass surface and a rain drainage system around the perimeter of the house. In the upper tier there is a garage-entrance hall. One tier below is the living room, kitchen, dining room, toilet. At the lowest level, a bedroom has been designed to provide the required level of soundproofing.

 When developing the concept of the building, it was impossible not to take into account the surrounding landscape around the house. The site is not separated by a fence and is left in its natural state. In order to visually minimize human interference in the environment, the area around the house was leveled and sown with a low lawn (including the roof from the second level of the building). At the same time, a significant part of the rocks had to be removed, but now there are narrow paths and graceful shrubs - everything that can give out a man-made intervention in the surrounding landscape. Everything looks harmonious and natural. My project proposal carefully blends modern interiors with the surrounding landscape. One of the main design tasks for me was to demonstrate how concrete can be combined with natural limestone, and the beauty of natural surfaces and verified geometric shapes can balance rocky relief. Most of the elements are made of unfinished concrete. Thermal insulation is provided by the homeostatic structure of the building, due to which the house does not require central heating or external air conditioning.

            I left the walls untouched, removed the natural relief only in the household areas: the kitchen and the bathroom. I managed to balance the deliberate porosity and roughness with the help of a polished concrete floor. Wooden furniture adds warmth and texture to the house, emphasizing the environmental friendliness and naturalness of the interior. Its confident geometric shapes balance the nervousness of the walls and harmonize the space. The concept of housing does not call for abandoning modern conveniences. The kitchen and bathrooms are equipped with the most modern equipment. And wide windows that allow daylight to enter the premises, filling it with the sun.

The philosophy of the project is harmony with nature and the aesthetics of simple forms. I tried to achieve maximum integration of architecture into the natural environment. When, driving up to the house and feeling the freshness of the mountain air, you can watch the colorful sunset. Continuing to watch the sunset, the owner walks through the house, goes out onto the balcony, stands on the edge, freezes for a second and estimates the height, the person makes a parachute jump.