Deer Grotto / Visiondivision
For their latest commission, Visiondivision addressed the extension of an 18th century cottage with their typical offbeat approach (check out their other projects previously featured on AD). Abiding by the clients’ request for the house to blend in with the environment, particularly from the one side where the client’s conservative mother “has her cottage and watchful eyes”, the extension becomes a unobtrusive living space that is part of the earth, making it appear “almost invisible”.
More images and more about the extension after the break.
Utilizing the sloping condition of the site, the architects were able to excavate the hill and construct a concrete vault in its void. The vault is then punctuated in strategic locations to allow light to illuminate the living spaces. The rest of the vault is covered with soil, leaving no obvious indications of the architects’ presence.
Deer statues placed on top of the building cover the holes and become the light shafts; they also act as a reference point for the content of the house.
The new extension is connected to the original home with an internal stair that divides the extension into a social zone and a quieter one. The social zone, which consists of a small kitchen and a living room, is clothed in a glass façade (the only visible façade of the entire extension) and faces the river. The quieter zone is comprised of the sleeping areas and bathroom where the over lights display the change of light quality throughout the day.
i dont know if its the images or the design but this looks really unpleasant.
some of the images make it feel like they are trapped in a grave.
Creepy.
A very rock ‘n roll extension! I wonder who will live there, anyway very smart concept with the excavation and statues.
Wow!! An instant classic! Very inspirational and fresh as always when it comes to visiondivision!
wow, you guys never cease to amaze me! you really are one of a kind, thinking outside the box (literally) and really manage to execute your vision. id love to see an interview with you to see whats going on in those golden brains of yours, where can i find one??
The way that the deer are placed over the different functions are brilliant, a great and somewhat humerous approach to “the facade should show the content of a building”. It will probably be nice to chill out among the statues too. I hope this piece will be erected.
Deer statues? That seems awfully kitschy..
why is it deer grotto? Why not rebbit or bear? What is exectly defference (I mean architecture) between deer grotto and any other?…
kitchy? but it’s SUPPOSED to be kistchy . It’s a grotto remember? a 16th century garden feature IMITATING picturesque nature.
Personnally I find the deer idea quite delicate (as opposed to bear, rabbits, oppossums etc). I don’t know how long you can live with that kind of stage-set but architecture should not last too long anyway.
And I think it’s good architecture too: just look at how restrained those effects are: one single vault generates different shapes of lighting, each corresponding to a space, each underlined by an attitude,
This thing should definetly be built.
The light holes are certainly needed, but I wouldn’t really want someone watching me on the toilet from above.
Fun little project although feels claustrophobic when I look at the images. I think you could expand a lot more on the concept; grottos are usually good because they are not closed, its closed and open space at the same time.
1) During deer hunting season, a hunter will take a shot at those realistic-looking deer. Placing these props near a home reveal the architect’s lack of understanding with the surroundings.
2) When snow is leaning against that glass, the seal will fail allowing water run-off into the structure. Again, not practical.
BAD
Just superb!
I cannot take my eyes of this design; it’s like a fairytale!
Good piece of architecture, very sly!
f a n t a s t i c!
Not one of the better things I have seen on here.
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9:41 PM May 12th
RT @archdaily: Deer Grotto / Visiondivision http://archdai.ly/dx3pb2
2:03 AM May 13th
architecture: Deer Grotto / Visiondivision (8pics) http://bit.ly/96SP7h (archdaily)
4:27 AM May 13th
Deer Grotto / Visiondivision http://archdai.ly/dx3pb2 (via @archdaily) Amusant : une excroissance souterraine avec lumière zenitale…
7:49 AM May 13th
Deer Grotto by Visiondivision: http://www.archdaily.com/59876/deer-grotto-visiondivision/
8:02 AM May 13th
RT @archdaily: Deer Grotto / Visiondivision http://archdai.ly/dx3pb2
10:13 AM May 13th
Reading: "Deer Grotto / Visiondivision | ArchDaily"( http://twitthis.com/kn7wa6 )
1:42 PM May 13th
Building with deer statue light shafts http://is.gd/c7I1R
9:01 PM May 13th
Deer Grotto / Visiondivision http://bit.ly/dpMxQw
12:51 PM Dec 21st
Here I wanna live! Suits good now with the snow and all: http://www.archdaily.com/59876/deer-grotto-visiondivision/