plasma studio presents its larch wood-clad ‘house L’ among the dolomite mountains, continuing its strategy of hybridizing traditional architecture with experimental geometries. developing the faceted dwelling, the design team works closely with its clients andrea holzer and her husband roland graf, who had long sought out the ideal site among italy’s region of south tyrol. the sloping plot, framed by the dramatic dolomite range, came with a series of inherent restrictions which ultimately served to inform the geometry and orientation of the project. 

plasma studio's contemporary 'house L' integrates with its traditional tyrolean context
image © michael pezzei

 

 

plasma studio names its ‘house L’ for its expression as an L-shaped volume. this form is a direct result of the conditions of the site, which studio partner ulla hell comments ‘might not have seemed ideal’ at first glance. beside its postcard views, the plot is adjacent to a main road lined with buildings programmed mainly as workshops for builders and carpenters. with its L-shaped orientation, the house turns away from its busy context to look inward toward the sloping garden lawn, shielding and framing an existing silver fir. 

plasma studio's contemporary 'house L' integrates with its traditional tyrolean context
image © michael pezzei

 

 

while the orientation of plasma studio’s ‘house L’ is informed by the conditions of the site, the geometry is further shaped by local building regulations. the structure must visually integrate with the architectural language of its context with the inclusion of a pitched roof. the design team uses this mandate as an opportunity for investigation, experimenting with the roof in search for a faceted volume which appears to change when viewed from different perspectives. this sculptural form is expressed from within, with the tall, angled ceilings of the interior.

plasma studio's contemporary 'house L' integrates with its traditional tyrolean context
image © michael pezzei

plasma studio's contemporary 'house L' integrates with its traditional tyrolean context
image © michael pezzei

plasma studio's contemporary 'house L' integrates with its traditional tyrolean context
image © michael pezzei

plasma studio's contemporary 'house L' integrates with its traditional tyrolean context
image © michael pezzei

plasma studio's contemporary 'house L' integrates with its traditional tyrolean context
image © michael pezzei

plasma studio's contemporary 'house L' integrates with its traditional tyrolean context
image © michael pezzei

plasma studio's contemporary 'house L' integrates with its traditional tyrolean context
image © michael pezzei

plasma studio's contemporary 'house L' integrates with its traditional tyrolean context
image © michael pezzei

plasma studio's contemporary 'house L' integrates with its traditional tyrolean context
image © michael pezzei

 

 

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project info:

 

project title: house L

architecture: plasma studio

location: gsies, south tyrol, northern italy

photography: © michael pezzei