«The sliding glass doors and the Brazilian slate tiling used inside and out deliver a seamless connectivity between the living room and terrace,» said the architect. Lower level floor plan – click for larger imageUpper level floor plan – click for larger imageCross sections – click for larger imageLong section one – click for larger imageLong section two – click for larger image «The pavilion-like configuration engages with the landscape and the elements,» said Shaw. Related story: Housing Estate Papillon sits in the shadow of a mountain rangeThe balcony positioned to the rear of the building takes advantage of views of the Black Forest, Rhine Valley and the ruins of a nearby castle, while the lower storey containing four bedrooms is sunken into the hillside. It gives a view through the living area and out of a large glazed wall on the other side of the house. The remaining sections of concrete protect a strip of ground leading up to the wooden front door. Two south-facing bedrooms and en-suite bathrooms are «cocooned» in the lower block beneath the terrace. To the front of the space, off a central hallway with smooth grey walls, there are two additional bedrooms, a utility room, a bathroom and storage space. By the entrance to the property, an overhanging roof has a large opening in the centre that lets daylight through the heavy structure. Ian Shaw Architekten set the two-storey house, named Villa S, into a slope above the town of Schriesheim in Baden-Württemberg, south-west Germany. The slate floor of the interior space continues through the sliding glass doors onto the balcony. By the entrance, a flight of internal stairs connects to a set of lower-storey rooms embedded into the side of the mountain. Small angular spotlights with aluminium surrounds are set into the underside of the concrete structure and light the porch at night, aiming to compliment the building’s «pared-back aesthetic.»
A section of glazing with a timber surround is set into the wall of the upper storey above an external stairwell that leads to the ground floor.
