Just outside the city of Treviso, in a location mid-way between city and countryside, the 3ndyStudio architects' studio has completed the residential project entitled The diamond tree which, by focusing on the concept of sculptural tension, took the shape of a unique home that stands out for its innovative features.
The concept for the villa was developed by taking apart a primary shape and subtracting, adding and rotating volumes to generate multiple spatial perceptions. The monolithic vision of the volumes was then carved, as if it were a sculpture, by “unusual” prismatic breaches cut into the walls - think of these like dynamic perceptive devices which reflect light, like diamonds.
This design work gave rise to fluid spaces devoid of any hierarchical structure, which generate continuous and intentional variations in the perception of the relationship between interior and exterior. The relationship between the home and its guests is thus marked by a dialogue between blocks and voids that defines simple compositional silhouettes, nevertheless capable of enabling the shell to interact with its users.
The purpose of the overall design is thus to generate spaces for contemplation which are also expressed through the structural integrity of the shapes. The latter take on an aesthetic significance aimed at creating an architecture to be discovered, one that summons emotions and where there are no spaces or volumes that form barriers.
The volumes of the living and sleeping areas rotate, colliding in a “hybrid” space, and generating a stereoscopic vision of the interiors, flooded by light streaming in from a large skylight that offers an unexpected glimpse of the sky. In this project, the role of light - whether natural or artificial - is elevated to the status of a construction material in its own right. While the former floods in from both the interior patio and the large floor-to-ceiling window that opens up onto the outside, when it comes to the latter, i.e. artificial light, a specific study was conducted beforehand. In fact, several recessed LED strips and touch-control spotlights were fitted in the ceiling to create genuine luminous paths that accompany guests and provide a feeling of continuity between the various rooms.
This continuity is further and above all confirmed by the innovative materials used. Indeed, the interiors of the facility were for the most part covered with solid surface, which appears like a solution that envelops the entire surface. This material is certainly innovative and it distinguishes the settings, also standing out for another unique quality. In fact, this material conceals a number of veritable technological gems which turn the project into an interactive architecture: the Eikon Tactil Devices. In fact, thanks to the company’s know-how, a cover plate was customised using the same material as the wall. Fully integrated into the wall in solid surface, Vimar’s devices thus establish a new definition of style, becoming one with the wall and making it interactive, entirely eliminating the concept of devices protruding from the wall. From here, opening and closing curtains and roller shutters, or turning on or off and adjusting dimmable LED lamps becomes a gesture packed with elegance. Indeed, as soon as you skim over the surface of the Eikon Tactil controls, a sensor detects your proximity to the devices and activates their backlighting. Activating them requires just a simple gesture, which Vimar’s sophisticated touch technology transforms into direct energy control.
While this solution was mostly implemented for the living area, visible Eikon Tactil controls were also installed in the passageways from one room to the next, where the walls could not be covered with solid surface. Instantly eye-catching owing to their sleek silhouettes, these devices – in the white colour version - make for a smooth surface with an elegant personality, capable of further enhancing the interiors thanks to the matching styling with the cover plates that frame Vimar thermostats and socket outlets.
Lastly, in such a sophisticated architectural and technological context, the management of functions such as lighting and temperature control could only be entrusted to the smart By-me home automation system. Thanks to this technology, full synergy between the various functions was achievable, ensuring that styling and functionality could coexist without compromise
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