Bruno undertook this project in collaboration with Christian Muller.
The distance and very open space between the house and creek side patio created a connection challenge. How to move between the two, and conceptually connect them, without the usual path connection? The solution was to use a gradation of square stones, suggesting a broad grassy avenue, with low ground washing lights. Rather than a solid path, which would divide the lawn area in two, this is more of a dotted visual link between the thouse and patio. The stones are larger and further apart near the house, smaller and closer together near the patio. The two lines of stones converge as the approach the patio. This forces the perpective, making the patio seem further away from the house, and the house seem closer from the patio. The slope away from the house adds to the effect.
This idea came directly from being on site, rather than at the drawing board. Getting the stones correctly spaced along the lines, and the convergance of the lines working, meant running inside to the upstairs balcony, eyeballing it, and then running down again and jumping back in the Bobcat.
See ‘Design’ and ‘Build’ for more on this project.