The Art of Specifying Products
Architect Steven Holl can find inspiration almost anywhere, whether it is from a Jackson Pollock painting hanging in the Museum of Modern Art, or the way the morning sun filters through the trees that surround his art studio in Upstate, New York. That is why he always has his signature 5-by-7-inch notebook by his side, filled with page after page of hurriedly sketched diagrams and luminous watercolors.
The inspiration for Holl’s most stunning project, the Daeyang Gallery and House, a combination residence and art gallery that he designed for a young couple in Seoul, struck him one day while reading Notationsby John Cage. The book contained a sketch by the composer Istvan Anhalt — three abstract shapes covered with musical notations. This long forgotten drawing, titled “Symphony of Modules,” would become the basis of the home’s floorplan and the driving force behind all of Holl’s product specifications.
The home, like the drawing, is organized into three angular modules: the formal entrance pavilion, the private residence and an event space for entertaining guests. These seemingly distinct buildings are unified below by a sprawling art gallery that is partially embedded in the sloped site. The roof of the gallery is located under a shallow reflecting pool, a “sheet of water” from which the modules appear to emerge.
The modules feature mullion-less wall systems of low-iron glazing joined with silicone and supported by exposed steel brackets. This assembly allows for uninterrupted views between spaces and an abundance of natural light. Supplemental daylight is provided via 55 acid etched glass skylights, which are rhythmically arranged in accordance with the musical score.
The skylights that illuminate the gallery are submerged in the reflecting pool, adding another dimension to the interior quality. “Sunlight turns and bends around the inner spaces, animating them with the changing light of each season and throughout the day,” described Steven Holl, “Like a cesura in music, strips of glass lenses in the base of the pool break through the surface, bringing dappled light to the white plaster walls and white granite floor of the gallery below.”
The outer façades of the modules are clad in pre-patinated copper panels. Their reddish-brown color gives the panels a timeworn appearance, as if they have been weathered and smoothed by the reflecting pool. The copper was left untreated so it will develop a darker, more mottled finish over time. The copper tone also resonates perfectly with the richly stained cabreuva wood flooring and paneling that envelopes the interior. Together, these warm details create the feeling of being inside of a handcrafted instrument, far removed from the hectic urban setting.
The main entrance to the house is hidden from the street by a walled courtyard. In contrast to the metal cladding, the gallery and courtyard walls were cast in place using a light colored concrete. These surfaces are heavily striated, like a musical staff, as a result of being formed with bamboo. In addition to being a more sustainable alternative to plywood formwork, the bamboo imprinted the concrete with patterns that evoke images of Korea’s natural landscapes and architectural heritage.
The architects also embossed the small expanse of concrete between the front door and the garage door with a sculptural relief of the house, as seen from above. Here, the similarities between the composer’s sketch and the architect’s plan become evident. At the base of the relief is a brass spout that trickles into a small water basin, foreshadowing the spectacular reflecting pool awaiting visitors at the top of the entry stairs.
The musical score motif is repeated throughout the interior and exterior finishes, serving as a constant reminder of the architect’s source of inspiration. On the interior, for instance, the concept sketch has been printed directly onto the area rug in the main living area. Meanwhile, on the exterior, light escapes through perforated aluminum fixtures to illuminate the courtyard.
Project Specifications: Area rugs: CC-Tapis; Copper cladding: Zahner; Cast-in-place concrete: Sika; Furnishings: Moroso; Interior woodwork:Listone Giordano; Skylights: Interpaneand OKALUX; Lighting: GE Lightingand FEELUX; Metal doors: Jansen; Stone and tilework: Jehyo
