This building has genuinely been on my list for years.

This building has genuinely been on my list for years. It had been under renovation for such a long time, mainly the façade and the exterior, so I could never properly visit it. I actually wanted to see it last year, but somehow I think seeing it now made the experience even more special. And honestly, rather than talking purely about the architectural details, I think the real beauty of the project lies in the story behind it.

The house was originally commissioned by an art dealer in Paris who first wanted to work with Le Corbusier. But considering how busy Le Corbusier already was at the time, alongside his very strong architectural principles, the collaboration never quite happened. The site itself sits on a very steep topography, and one of the client’s main requests was specifically not to have a flat roof. Of course, knowing Le Corbusier’s work and his obsession with flat roofs, the client realised that this probably was not going to align with his vision.

So he began searching for another architect, someone who could respond more sensitively to both the landscape and the atmosphere he imagined for the house. Eventually, he chose to work with Alvar Aalto.

Aalto was based in Finland and was already an incredibly busy architect at the time, with numerous projects happening simultaneously. After a very long wait, the client finally managed to establish contact with him, and Aalto agreed to design the entire building. That decision ultimately shaped one of the most recognisable features of the project, the roof itself.

What I found particularly fascinating was how deceptive the scale of the building feels. From the outside, it appears relatively small and almost understated, yet the moment you step inside it suddenly opens up and feels enormous. That contrast was actually one of the client’s key requirements. He wanted the building to reveal itself gradually, almost unexpectedly.