Artist Alice Trepp models sculptureswith her hands, immortalizing moments in time. Artists work on their subjectwhile architects get people to live inside what they build. The Trepp Atelierwas developed for a person but also for a place. Designing an Atelier to mirrorthe thought and philosophy of an artist has long fascinated generations ofartists and the architects charged with the task. Located near Origlio, a villageoverlooking the lake of the same name, Alice Trepp’s Studio is both a place ofwork and a home. Atelier Trepp is built to slot as naturally as possible intothe contour lines forming the morphology of the site. Placed mainlyunderground, it takes its cue from ancient Greek theaters that were molded tofit into the natural morphology of their context. Wedged into the two highestupward-curving contour lines, the building fits seamlessly into the sinuous lieof the land. The volume takes shape rising like leaves out of the ground tomake the architecture appear a natural landscape feature. An iconic touch hasbeen added by pivoting the construction around a ‘cenote’, in acknowledgementof the artist’s Ecuadorian origins. Built around this core, the two storiesintersect, creating a dynamic play of transparency and visual permeability.Interior and exterior spaces blend and re-form, constantly interacting with thelight and the surrounding countryside. The cenote in Atelier Trepp is a spaceof contemplation and communion with nature. Reflected, refracted light playingon water is conducive to a multi-sensorial awareness of the passing of time.The cenote marks out the passing of time as the day proceeds and the lightchanges, capturing the fleeting moments of the day. The freshness coming offthe water, the light breeze that gently sways the sweet-smelling overhangingvegetation, the twittering of birds, and the view of the passing clouds conjureup visions of the artist lying on the gravel of the shallow water immersed in amoment of sensory exploration - the search for the sublime in the everyday, amoment of contemplation for the artist before, during and after the creation ofa work of art.

CONCLUSION

The project represents a refined balancebetween the needs of the artist client and the place where the villa islocated. The insertion in the ground and the sinuous movements resulting fromthe project's premises have led to harmonious shapes. In particular, the roofand the cenote required a considerable inventiveness between digital design andreal construction.

Thedistinctive design allowed the embrace of the panorama and also increased theview towards it for the neighbour. This harmonious integration into natureblurred the boundary between inside and outside, allowing a connection betweenthem and a stimulating environment for the artist.

Artist Alice Trepp models sculptureswith her hands, immortalizing moments in time. Artists work on their subjectwhile architects get people to live inside what they build. The Trepp Atelierwas developed for a person but also for a place. Designing an Atelier to mirrorthe thought and philosophy of an artist has long fascinated generations ofartists and the architects charged with the task. Located near Origlio, a villageoverlooking the lake of the same name, Alice Trepp’s Studio is both a place ofwork and a home. Atelier Trepp is built to slot as naturally as possible intothe contour lines forming the morphology of the site. Placed mainlyunderground, it takes its cue from ancient Greek theaters that were molded tofit into the natural morphology of their context. Wedged into the two highestupward-curving contour lines, the building fits seamlessly into the sinuous lieof the land. The volume takes shape rising like leaves out of the ground tomake the architecture appear a natural landscape feature. An iconic touch hasbeen added by pivoting the construction around a ‘cenote’, in acknowledgementof the artist’s Ecuadorian origins. Built around this core, the two storiesintersect, creating a dynamic play of transparency and visual permeability.Interior and exterior spaces blend and re-form, constantly interacting with thelight and the surrounding countryside. The cenote in Atelier Trepp is a spaceof contemplation and communion with nature. Reflected, refracted light playingon water is conducive to a multi-sensorial awareness of the passing of time.The cenote marks out the passing of time as the day proceeds and the lightchanges, capturing the fleeting moments of the day. The freshness coming offthe water, the light breeze that gently sways the sweet-smelling overhangingvegetation, the twittering of birds, and the view of the passing clouds conjureup visions of the artist lying on the gravel of the shallow water immersed in amoment of sensory exploration - the search for the sublime in the everyday, amoment of contemplation for the artist before, during and after the creation ofa work of art.

CONCLUSION

The project represents a refined balancebetween the needs of the artist client and the place where the villa islocated. The insertion in the ground and the sinuous movements resulting fromthe project's premises have led to harmonious shapes. In particular, the roofand the cenote required a considerable inventiveness between digital design andreal construction.

Thedistinctive design allowed the embrace of the panorama and also increased theview towards it for the neighbour. This harmonious integration into natureblurred the boundary between inside and outside, allowing a connection betweenthem and a stimulating environment for the artist.