The house is neoclassical Roman peristyle built in stuccoed hay bale with a wide, colonial-style veranda all round, the roof of which is made from photovoltaic cells and also catches the house water. It has an uncluttered, elegant, ethereal feel, the colours vivid yet subtle, and translucent, like watercolour paintings.
Along both sides french doors open onto flagstone paved, arched colonnades that run either side of a peristyle garden with a lap pool surrounded by fragrant vines, perennial bulbs and a plethora of orchids. A delicate, curved wrought iron, covered bridge crosses the pool mid-way.
The front end of the peristyle garden is a wall of wrought iron littered with stained glass sea creatures, in the centre of which is a nine-foot, slumped glass wave fountain that acts as reticulation for the pool water. This provides a glorious precursor to the Art Nouveau, seahorse motif, convex curved, frosted-glass entrance doors to the right. These open into the living area stretching that side of the building, at the far end, becoming dining then turning left into kitchen.
The the colonnade on living space side ends in a ramp to the roof garden. There are deep bay windows looking out to the external verhanda, with cushioned window seats above storage cupboards and recessed alcoves for bookshelves and artworks. The the window seats and alcoves have softly curved edges, those on the alcoves giving a subtle impression of ribs.
Indeed, the whole interior has few hard edges, all corners being softly curved rather than angled. This is a subtle effect though, and not a profiled feature, as such, meant more to endow an organic feel to the spaces. It is important that the proportions of all spaces follow the ancient geometric principles, so that there is a sense of harmony, both between and within all spaces.
The terrazzo floor’s pattern evokes the shore on a retreating tide at dusk, with sea flotsam embedded therein. Midway is a sunken, asymmetric semicircle lounge with large cushions facing a walk-in fireplace that has a tripod for smaller fires.
At the far end corner, the dining table is adjacent to French doors leading onto the veranda. The kitchen area can be shielded by a folding door when desired. There is a slow combustion Aga stove, its chimney replete with smoking chamber, plus a gas range on an island bench, a twin-tub, twin apron sink with good bench space either side, a rack for implements above and cupboards below.
Dutch doors lead to the walled kitchen garden and to the left a large walk-in pantry and preserving room, with a weighted lift to a cool storage cellar, can be entered from both kitchen and veranda. At the far end is an ensuite and laundry replete with gas copper for kitchen as well as washing purposes.
The number of bedrooms and size of study and studio on the left side depends upon the budget. Each bedroom has light golden coloured or limed timber flooring, ensuites, the main with a walk-in wardobe, and French doors leading onto both veranda and colonnade. The studio is at the front end and the study at the rear, in a raised, enclosed section overlooking the kitchen garden.
On this side the colonnade ramp leads to the main bathroom, raised above the lap pool and shielded by plants so that it remains private, but can also be accessed from the spa at the end of the pool. There is a sliding roof so that one may bathe and dry off in the sun when one chooses.
Lastly, there is a mosaic-tiled roof garden with sculptures, Gaudi-like minarets and a wrought iron, glassed pergola for dew-free stargazing.
I could elaborate further on accouterments, such as the glass door handles with shells and flowers embedded but, ah, enough of dreaming for the moment! Back to real life!
No comments:
Post a Comment