Let's Twist: A dynamic study in contrasts, this sculptural villa is a reflection of German tradition and style, as well as of the couple who commissioned it.
Principal Ben van Berkel calls it “the twist.” Two flights of stairs run diagonally across the square floor plan, crossing over each other in a single, fluid motion as they rise from the ground-floor entry to the living area and up to the gallery and master bedroom. The dynamic energy they impart sets the open living spaces into motion and directs visitors toward the cozy, glazed corners with views of ancient terraced vineyards to the north, or over the rooftops and trees to the south. Above the stairs, a curving skylight caps the sweeping space like the vortex at the center of a whirlpool.
The thrust of van Berkel's trajectory continues out to the facade and roof, both clad in custom aluminum panels, where curves distort every plane. The roof dips at the front of the house in a nod to the steep gables of neighboring houses. At the back, a side elevation curls up over the double-height glazing around the dining room, rising at an angle that mimics the slope of the adjacent vineyards. From the garden, the walls appear to rise in successive diagonal spans over another glass curtain, as if the entire house were a grand cantilevered stair. In fact, the concrete structure has only four points of continuous vertical support: the elevator shaft, pillars hidden in the kitchen, and two side walls.
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