villa hush-hush by steve chilton

specifically created for sensitive sites and affording views, villa hush-hush is designed
by steve chilton of mark barfield architects as a new home concept that can disappear
into a landscape, but at the touch of a button be lifted above the treetops to provide
wonderful panoramic views.

in plan, the villa is divided into four clearly defined zones, of which it is possible to
elevate two, depending on the internal arrangement and client’s requirements. the clean
simplicity of the forms concentrates the relationship between the villa, the viewer
and its environment. 


when the structure is all at one level



externally the moving element transforms the villa into a kinetic sculpture. inside,
bespoke designs by interior designers candy & candy will frame spectacular views,
that would slowly be unveiled as part of the villa rises up above the surroundings
bringing the horizon into view, creating a memorable, and heightened feeling.







engineers atelier one designed the lifting mechanism which pushes a support column
up out of the ground raising the moving element of the villa from its lowered position
to the required height. the lifting mechanism has been designed such that the lifting,
at around 10cm per second, is gentle and steady. the moving element of the villa can be
lowered more quickly as it is easier to drop the structure than lift it.  this means it would
take about five minutes to reach its full height above ground and about three minutes
to descend. 









the support column and the moving element of the villa are balanced by 260 tonnes
of steel plate acting as a counter-weight suspended in a cradle and guided within a central
inner steel tube structure, and are driven by eight 22kW drive motors, equivalent in total
to an energy efficient family sized vehicle.  redundancy is designed into the system
of motors and gearboxes such that in the event of failure of a single drive unit the mechanism
will function as normal, with no reduction in performance.







working with dynamic specialists motioneering, dampers have been designed into
the structure to limit the dynamic response of the structure at various heights and wind
speeds to ensure the highest levels of comfort.

to maximise the economic efficiency of the structure, the structure is restricted from
being elevated during very high winds. the high wind limit for this is around beaufort
scale 7 which is described as when whole trees are in motion and effort is needed to walk
against the wind. in these cases the moving element of the villa would remain comfortably
in its lowered position.



elevation

elevation


elevation


model of 'villa hush hush'


model of 'villa hush hush'