
Maison à Bordeaux [bordeaux]
by oma
this structurally playful design is located on a hill overlooking the city of bordeaux. the lower level carved into the hillside for the more intimate moments. a glass volume contains the mid level allowing the living spaces to spill on the nearby terraces and lawns. the upper volume is elevated, almost levitating, and is separated into a parent’s area and a children’s area. at its' heart is a 3m x 3m hydraulic elevator platform which moves freely between floors and allows the family access to books, artwork, and wine in the cellar. the primary diver for this move was to better accommodate the patriarch who was wheelchair-bound after a car accident during the design process. the powerful parti is juxtaposed with whimsical moments where curtains break down the brutal form. circular geometry perforates the rectilinear massing at every turn, each with a unique twist. the playful appearance of the house’s structural system does nothing to diminish its complexity and ingenuity.
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