Our design for this house began with a sketch of a tree. On paper, the trunk anchored the site and the branches reached out to the landscape. That simple motif – a living heart that organizes the plan and frames the views – guided every subsequent decision. We wanted the house to be both refuge and viewpoint: a sanctuary that draws you inward and a frame that opens to mountains and sky.
Planning around a living courtyard
The first challenge was how to lay out a generous family home without losing intimacy. The answer came from the tree. We drew a U‑shaped plan around a central courtyard where a real tree would grow, and let each wing branch off into its own function – living, sleeping, service.
The entry is not a door but a journey; you are led past the branches of the courtyard tree into a glazed gallery, and only then are you invited to choose a direction.
To the north, the main living wing opens completely to the landscape. A long horizontal roof hovers above it, cantilevering toward the view and protecting a band of floor‑to‑ceiling glass. To the east are the pantry, service rooms and garage – kept out of sight yet directly accessible. The southern wing is the private realm, housing the master suite and children’s rooms. By arranging the plan this way, we created an L‑shaped outdoor court to the east and a dramatic open panorama to the west. Every room enjoys a different relationship to nature: some look across treetops, others onto a secret garden, others toward the mountains beyond.
Merging architecture and nature
Inside, the living areas revolve around a vertical garden framed behind the kitchen. In the main kitchen and dining space, a sculpted stone island floats like a monolith, its grey veins picking up the tones of the mountain behind, while a light wood table extends out of it to seat family and friends.
A long band of cabinetry in white and oak disappears into the wall, ensuring that the greenery beyond remains the focal point.
The living room is conceived as a comfortable landscape of its own. A deep, curved sofa and low tables are arranged on a textured wool rug, creating a conversation pit facing the fireplace and the ever‑changing panorama. Each piece of furniture was chosen for its sculptural quality – the rattan armchair echoes the branches of the courtyard tree, and the low lounge chairs resemble smooth river stones. An artisan‑made fireplace anchors one end of the room; carved from a single block of stone, it houses a linear flame that warms the space.
Private wings as serene retreats
The master suite lies in the southern wing, and it was designed as an exercise in calm. Behind the headboard, a wall of vertical panels in pale plaster casts soft shadows, while to the side a fluted travertine wall provides texture and warmth.
A delicate pendant sculpture of bronze discs hangs over the bedside table, catching the morning light. The bed faces a sliding glass wall that frames the mountains; waking up is like watching a living painting.
Adjacent to the bedroom is a walk‑in wardrobe conceived as an intimate gallery. Full‑height cabinets line both sides, and a central glass enclosure with warm backlighting turns clothing into display.
The bathrooms take their inspiration from ancient baths. Arched ceilings, bespoke bronze fixtures and monolithic stone basins create an atmosphere of quiet luxury. In the master bath, dark stone wainscoting grounds the space, while the upper walls are finished in hand‑trowelled plaster. The recessed lighting emphasises the curves of the arches and highlights the sculptural bathtub carved from the same stone as the floor.
Crafting a home through light and texture
Throughout the house, light was treated as a building material. Narrow skylights wash the vertical surfaces, hidden LEDs graze textured walls, and floor‑to‑ceiling windows pull in the changing colours of the sky. Materials were selected for their honesty and warmth: oak, travertine, wool and bronze age beautifully with use. We deliberately avoided ornate decoration; instead, subtle details – the curve of a handrail, the reveal of a cabinet – provide visual interest.
The design process was not linear. It involved countless models, sketches and mock‑ups to test proportions and light. We visited the site repeatedly, aligning walls with specific mountain peaks and adjusting window heights to frame views. We collaborated with landscape architects to ensure the courtyard tree could thrive, designing drainage and soil volumes around it. Even the furniture was prototyped in our workshop to ensure it was comfortable from every angle.
In the end, the genius of the project lies not in a single element but in the harmony of its parts. The house feels both solid and light, intimate and expansive. It invites you to slow down, notice the play of light on stone, the rustle of leaves in the courtyard, the changing moods of the mountains. It is a place where architecture and landscape co‑create a sense of home.
