Physical Model - Network of underground closets
A Villa in Palm Springs
Located in Palm Springs, a desert resort city within the Coachella Valley of Southern California. The city is protected by a series of mountain ranges on all sides and is the northwestern tip of a string of cities that connect to the Salton Sea at the southeastern end. This project explores the role of obsession and obsessive behavior in architecture. The program for this project was a single-family residence.
Obsession about privacy
The villa is nestled in Palm Springs, a city witnessing a surge in the number of residences dedicated to Airbnb and VRBO rentals. The design of the building is characterized by two distinct masses, strategically positioned along the perimeter of the site and separated by a courtyard. Furthermore, to achieve utmost privacy from the bustling street and surrounding neighborhood, a formidable thick wall envelops the premises, serving as a fortification.
Obsession about Program
Socio-Culturally, Palm Springs originated as a health retreat due to the therapeutic value of dry climates and mineral hot springs. In the early 1900s, the word spread to writers and artists who extolled its virtues to Hollywood celebrities who started to throw parties in their Palm Springs villas. As a result of these behaviors, today in 2017 Palm Springs is still known for its paradoxical character of being a very loud and quiet city at the same time.
Through the careful integration of two distinct and independent masses within the site, the villa achieves a deliberate programmatic segregation that harmonizes with the distinctive attributes of the city. The eastern mass unfolds as a generous expanse, encompassing an expansive open space, an outdoor bathroom and shower, and a kitchen that fosters the vibrant and animated nature of its activities. In contrast, the western mass embraces a serene composition, dedicated to bedrooms, a tranquil living room, and a kitchen catering to the demands of daily routines, all enveloped within an atmosphere of tranquility.
To further streamline the architectural plan and eliminate obstructions, the concept of treating closets as elements that often obscure the overall layout was embraced. Consequently, they were relocated to the rear of the site, both underground and accessible through elevators within the bedrooms or via a maze-like garden and the bunkers at the back of the property. This deliberate treatment of a seemingly insignificant element, such as a closet, exemplifies how a meticulous focus on specific details can profoundly influence both the formal and conceptual qualities of a project, underscoring the impact that obsessions over apparently trivial components can have.
Obsession about Light (transparency)
In consideration of the distinct programmatic requirements for each mass, the design approach embraced transparency as a means to visually communicate the internal activities. To articulate this, the western mass, dedicated to lively and dynamic functions, exhibits an expanse of glass enveloping all sides, fostering a seamless integration between the interior and exterior spaces, thus encapsulating a notion of horizontal transparency. Conversely, the eastern mass, designated for serene and contemplative programs, embraces an open configuration, devoid of visual barriers, while harnessing skylights embedded within the ceiling to bathe the space in natural light, thereby accentuating vertical transparency.
Physical Model
Physical Model
Physical Model
Section
Underground Floor Plan (Network of Closets)
Ground Floor Plan
2nd Floor Plan