October 2024
Reference
Magnificently monolithic at first sight, the Villa B is a house with an intriguing double identity. Behind the imposing, screen-like frontage is a warm and welcoming domestic space that gradually opens the house to the garden, bringing the outside inside with a transparent rear facade. The contrasting composition meets the client's wishes for a distinctive home that would be a new take on the classic Munich townhouse.
Villa B has a majestic presence. It has an impressive volume and is structured in vertical marble slabs with delicate brass lining. The facade is entirely closed, except for the solid patinated brass entrance doors and four marble panels on the first floor that opens to reveal a window. The detailing of the facade is kept extremely clear in its lines and expression, eliminating any element that suggests mechanical or technical movement, such as hinges and sliders.
The closed front facade acts as a privacy screen for the interior and garden. The design opens towards the back of the house, progressively increasing the number of glass openings. These culminate in an entirely transparent garden facade. The glass wall ensures a seamless transition between the lush natural landscape outside and the interior space, interrupted only by narrow stone bands forming large overhangs.