Carlo Scarpa, Villa Ottolenghi, Str. Monterosso, Verona, Italy, 1978

“Within the project an important aspect is the treatment of water by the architect. The water is used to express at the same time emphasizing the relationship between inside and outside, between the natural and the artificial. Wright influenced by Japanese architecture as the calm pools unite inside with the outside at the same time make us pay attention to the separation of both. This separation was also highlighted by the heavy walls and irregular openings. It is the contrast between such an ethereal, like water and the heavy walls and columns that we distinguish between inside and outside.

With the seemingly haphazard disposal of the pillars and rough stone coating Scarpa accomplished while conveniently separate the different environments of the house to note the inability to predict what the architect unpredictable human life.

The rough side of the pillars along with his consistency apparently no structural stress the fact that the house is buried in the ground, as if in a cave dug into the same question.” […]. “The areas of life day are geared towards the entrance at the same time enjoying a direct relationship with the outside world.

These sites take shape from the natural terrain and the position of the nine seemingly haphazard structural pillars. There are changes in level between the living room, kitchen, dining room and bathroom, stays that otherwise would not have any physical separation. This response so closely linked to the characteristics of the land itself is not the works of Scarpa, except perhaps for the family cemetery Brioni being built simultaneously.”

Resources:

Information in Spanish language

Article, drawings of Carlo Scarpa

Reviewed by Irmina Gerełło, March 2017.