The Villa Vals
December 18, 2009 6:32 AM Subscribe
The Villa Vals, from Christian Muller Architects, is an innovative (and totally cool) house dug into the side of a Swiss alp. More pictures from Iwan Baan.
Really fantastic. Has this sort of volcanic crater feel, but tilted a bit for access. One thing I immediately wondered was how precipitation accumulates (it is the Alps, right?) and how that might affect ease of access. Of course, I imagine that there was a great deal of planning and engineering in this project and that whatever system was designed to divert rainwater and snow from collecting in that front patio area is probably even more impressive than the building itself.
posted by billysumday at 6:38 AM on December 18, 2009
posted by billysumday at 6:38 AM on December 18, 2009
Sorry, Omiewise, it's not a double! I was confusing MeFi with Facebook (gasp!), where i saw this linked by someone the other day. Apologies.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:38 AM on December 18, 2009
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:38 AM on December 18, 2009
Oh, fucking ouch! I'm not even on Facebook, and I'm not even on it with extreme prejudice!
posted by OmieWise at 6:40 AM on December 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by OmieWise at 6:40 AM on December 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
When it comes to crying double, "link or it didn't happen" should be the only acceptable policy.
Meanwhile: this is indeed totally cool. I was obsessed with underground houses when I was a kid (I read this book to pieces) and still harbor a lot of affection for them.
posted by Wolfdog at 6:51 AM on December 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
Meanwhile: this is indeed totally cool. I was obsessed with underground houses when I was a kid (I read this book to pieces) and still harbor a lot of affection for them.
posted by Wolfdog at 6:51 AM on December 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
I love to look at designs like this one, but I do wonder if I could live with all that bare grey concrete, especially overhead in the bedroom. It's a little oppressive. Plus my dad-brain gets really freaked out when I think of my kids running around somewhere like that
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 6:57 AM on December 18, 2009
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 6:57 AM on December 18, 2009
This derail is most certainly a double.
posted by billysumday at 6:57 AM on December 18, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by billysumday at 6:57 AM on December 18, 2009 [2 favorites]
It was also recently posted on MetaChat, maybe thence the confusion?
posted by AwkwardPause at 9:10 AM on December 18, 2009
posted by AwkwardPause at 9:10 AM on December 18, 2009
Flapjax will now commit hara-kiri. And I get a ribbon for Japanese spelling!
posted by twoleftfeet at 9:31 AM on December 18, 2009
posted by twoleftfeet at 9:31 AM on December 18, 2009
From the linked article:
Switzerland’s planning laws dictate that it is only possible to grant a definitive planning permission after a timber model of the building’s volume has first been constructed on site.
Daaaaaamn. This is crazy.
It's Switzerland for crying out loud. Surely they mean either chocolate or cheese, not timber.
posted by kcds at 10:41 AM on December 18, 2009
Switzerland’s planning laws dictate that it is only possible to grant a definitive planning permission after a timber model of the building’s volume has first been constructed on site.
Daaaaaamn. This is crazy.
It's Switzerland for crying out loud. Surely they mean either chocolate or cheese, not timber.
posted by kcds at 10:41 AM on December 18, 2009
Yes!
Saw this on Treehugger the other day, and thought about building my own underground evil lair, umm...i mean villa.
posted by Capt Jingo at 11:10 AM on December 18, 2009
Saw this on Treehugger the other day, and thought about building my own underground evil lair, umm...i mean villa.
posted by Capt Jingo at 11:10 AM on December 18, 2009
Could use a minaret.
posted by HP LaserJet P10006 at 12:24 PM on December 19, 2009
posted by HP LaserJet P10006 at 12:24 PM on December 19, 2009
« Older In Russia, corruption gets you | Ali's Missing Opponent Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:35 AM on December 18, 2009