Freedom of Space

Set in the hills of Geneva, Elle Maison blurs the boundary between manmade spaces and nature.

- Martin Teo

It is almost trivial to refuse an exquisitely proportioned and well-measured private home set on a medium high plateau with an uninterrupted panorama of the nature and manmade landscapes. Stripped from excessive use of walls, the home tells a story through a clever manipulation of openings that encapsulates the natural beauty of its surroundings. From the house, Mont Blanc and the Alps are within sight with an infinite view of the Swiss hills.

A sense of belonging hits the right spot as one continue to ogle at the pristine wonder of the Elle Maison by Damilanostudio Architects. A first glance sees a wellcut piece of architecture that is manoeuvered technically against the inclined terrain, with selected plants dotting its perimeters. A second review illustrates an exposé of a contemporary open space in its simplest form. Take a deep breath and feel a sense of lightness and honesty that is piercing in and out.

The owners are a married couple, a scientist husband and a wife in international trade. Work opportunities see them seeking refuge in Geneva away from their previous home in Italy. And from the sounds of it, the owners desire a peaceful place that sets a slower pace as well as an inspirational space to rejuvenate.

“The transparency of the house comes from the owners’ spirit of freedom,” Architect Duilio Damilano narrates.

The translation to freedom is one’s prerogative. But in the context of Elle Maison, it is the freedom of interaction between the interior and the exterior, the earth and concrete spaces. With an open plan concept, nothing is in between the visual path of the house and its surroundings.