An Updated Farmhouse in Lithuania Cantilevers Over a Parkland Setting
Referencing the farmhouse vernacular, Valley Villa features asymmetrical gables and sustainable, Kebony wood cladding.
Valley Villa is a modern take on the traditional Lithuanian farmhouse, which typically features double-pitched roofs, wooden blinds and finishes, and a granite foundation. For this 4,467-square-foot residence, Vilnius–based architectural firm Arches created a two-pronged plan with a central node that nestles into a slope, and one wing that cantilevers over a clearing. Asymmetrical rooflines amp up the drama, while sustainable, wood cladding nods to tradition.
Valley Villa is located in a regional park outside Vilnius, Lithuania, on the site of a former wooden farmstead. The new 4,467-square-foot home has two wings on the upper level, one public and one private, which hosts three bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths. The lower level holds a garage, office, family room, and guest room.
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"The ground floor is partly hidden in the slope," say the architects, so as to make it seem as though it is receding into the landscape. The cantilevered volume houses the living room and creates protected space below for an outdoor patio.
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The architects tucked courtyards off of all of the main interior spaces. "Courtyards are arranged on different levels, creating a sensation of wholeness and privacy, enabling the homeowners to enjoy both morning and evening sun," says the firm.
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The architects opted for a black finish on the bottom level to emphasize the cantilevered volume.
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The vertical orientation of the exterior siding is meant to mimic the surrounding tree trunks in the natural setting. The wood siding was sourced from Kebony, "which modifies sustainably sourced softwoods by heating the wood with furfuryl alcohol—an agricultural byproduct," says the company. Doing so enables the softwoods to "permanently take on the attributes of tropical hardwood," relaying all the benefits of tropical hardwoods without relying on deforestation practices. The granite patio nods to traditional farmhouse foundations.
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"The idea of the building is to ‘hang’ it over the valley and open it to the valley by continuous windows," says the firm.
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A Focus fireplace offers a 360-degree view of the fire and doesn’t block sight lines.
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ShopA minimal galley kitchen floats in the open plan.
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Screens composed of vertical wood slats discourage interior overheating and are a decorative feature.
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Floating wood treads mimic the suspended exterior volume.
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The wooden screens produce interesting shadows inside a bathroom and allow privacy from the adjacent terrace.
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The wooden slats are repeated inside for consistency.
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Valley Villa floor plan
Courtesy of Arches
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Project Credits:
Architecture: Arches
Builder: Sivysta
Structural Engineer: Dainius Dubaka
Civil Engineer: Santechnikos darbai
Landscape Design: Arches
Lighting Design: Sostines sviesos
Interior Design: Arches
Sound Engineer: Digital Audio
Cabinetry Design/Installation: Viruna
Windows: Doleta
Wood for finishing: Kebony
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