ArchReview #169
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Review :
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This house openly plays at aristocracy, and does so with such seriousness that it involuntarily commands respect for the consistency of its design. It is a house-performance, a house-statement. It does not hide its ambitions or apologize for them. In an era of minimalism, such overt decorativeness seems almost rebellious, reminding us that architecture can be not only functional but also emotionally rich.2
Material excess reaches its peak in the central portal. The curved pediment with wave-like lines is pure Baroque, transferred to the American context without the slightest embarrassment. Balustrades, columns, arches — the entire vocabulary of classical architecture is gathered here in one place, as in a textbook on the history of styles.3
Symmetry is taken to the extreme—every element has its counterpart, every detail is in its strictly defined place. This is the architecture of control, where chance is excluded by definition. Even nature is subject to order here: perfectly trimmed shrubs frame the composition like theater wings.4
The deeply carved wooden entrance door contrasts with the coldness of the stone, adding a touch of artisanal warmth to an otherwise majestic but detached composition. 5
The lighting transforms the façade into a stage set — each architectural detail is illuminated to emphasize its significance.Facade #13767 from Archi.Capital base.
