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The charming Vista House by Studio 10 in China is a “juncture of views of flows”

Vista House is a renovation of a former Italian style home that revels in soft archways, perspective and depth, with marble and copper accents cladding its light tone surfaces.

by Jincy IypePublished on : Jan 13, 2021

Simple archways and clean lines create a series of marvelous, framed views within Vista House, renovated by Chinese design practice Studio 10. Highlighted by its pleasing colour palette and light materiality, the project is a remodeling of an Italian style private residence in a suburb within Shenzhen, China, where the client wished to add “a contemporary and whimsical taste to this single-family house that they had been living in for more than a decade,” shares Studio 10.

The hallway extends into a roomy living space and tea room | Vista House designed by Studio 10 | STIRworld
The hallway extends into a roomy living space and tea room Image: Chao Zhang

According to the studio, the dwelling’s location within a lush landscape is akin to sitting in the Tuscany countryside, which was emulated in the home's exterior. “Due to stringent statuary restrictions on exterior renovation, we focused instead on reshaping the interior space as well as reinforcing its connection with the outside,” they add.

View of the communal foyer and family spaces above | Vista House designed by Studio 10 | STIRworld
View of the communal foyer and family spaces above Image: Chao Zhang
The well-lit, roomy living area | Vista House designed by Studio 10 | STIRworld
The well-lit, roomy living area Image: Chao Zhang

For Vista House, Studio 10 found inspiration from historical archetypes of countryside Palladian villas, where perspective and depth of spaces are given priority in terms of design, to increase interactions between the insides and the landscape outside. “As a contemporary interpretation, we have added horizontal and vertical openings in the house to reinforce both the depth and superimposing of spaces, connecting them with lines of views. Furthermore, arched window openings have been added on the exterior walls, becoming mediums to frame the landscape vistas for the spectators indoors,” says Shi Zhou, principal in charge, Studio 10.

Classic Italian components are simplified | Vista House designed by Studio 10 | STIRworld
Classic Italian components are simplified Image: Chao Zhang
Fountain and pool outside | Vista House designed by Studio 10 | STIRworld
Fountain and pool outside Image: Chao Zhang

Classic components of the former Italian architecture were simplified into cleaner, more abstract blocks, proportions and symbols, and are reestablished into the new design that spans two levels, such as the massive Palladian window in the generous living area and the ivory white columns placed outside.

The previous building housed various spaces and rooms which were kept separated, connected via doors. The renovation brought in an open plan restructure that sees the inclusion of a central communal foyer that extends into the living area, “as a juncture of views and flows”, while all other spaces are planned around it. This foyer has diamond tiled marble flooring and to its left lies a white marble staircase with copper balustrades, and a lift with similar accents on its door frame.

Foyer | Vista House designed by Studio 10 | STIRworld
Foyer Image: Chao Zhang

Up ahead, a rust coloured marbled arch with a rounded sink is added between the foyer and tea room, softly redefining and dividing the interior design here. When viewing the woods outside through the windows in the tea room, the arch becomes a frame as well as a reference, blocking the view from the double height living space to the powder room door.

The kitchen | Vista House designed by Studio 10 | STIRworld
The kitchen Image: Chao Zhang

Within the 1,000 sqm residential design, four paired arches link the expansive communal space with the dining and kitchen area with a greyer scheme, creating a close circulation and visual loop, the latter merged as one entity. The eye follows the visual lines from the well-lit living area to the duskier dining room and kitchen with cream and moss green marble countertops, and ends at a translucent wall built of glass blocks. Forms, trees and shadows can be seen vaguely from this screen, breaking the uniformity of the space.

  • Seaweed green marbletops in the kitchen | Vista House designed by Studio 10 | STIRworld
    Seaweed green marbletops in the kitchen Image: Chao Zhang
  • Dining area flanked by arches on its sides | Vista House designed by Studio 10 | STIRworld
    Dining area flanked by arches on its sides Image: Chao Zhang

Linking the two floors is a quadrant window with a cantilevering balcony, added to the second level wall, where spaces for the family are planned. From these spaces and the fan shaped opening one can see the exterior vista framed by the arched window. The house also includes a spa and sauna done in powder pink marble.

  • Washroom | Vista House designed by Studio 10 | STIRworld
    Washroom Image: Chao Zhang
  • One of the bedrooms | Vista House designed by Studio 10 | STIRworld
    One of the bedrooms Image: Chao Zhang

Because the first level of the structure was raised during the remodeling, the basement swimming pool is now at the same level as the back garden, and extends into it. The renovated pool features arched glass windows on three of its sides, lending the space resplendence.

Indoor swimming pool | Vista House designed by Studio 10 | STIRworld
Indoor swimming pool Image: Chao Zhang

“To some extent, it is much like a loggia that is quite common in Palladian villas,” observes Zhou. A later addition, the vaulted ceiling dips into the pool and is expertly merged into the wall, guiding the eye towards a sculpture and views at the far end of it. “Rippled reflections of the lush greens in the pool through the skylight is re-projected to the vaulted ceiling, making you feel as if you are outside in nature,” adds Zhou.

Project Details

Name: Vista House
Location: Shenzhen, China
Area: 1000 sqm
Year of completion: 2020
Design: Studio 10
Principal‐in‐charge: Shi Zhou
Design Team: Cristina Moreno Cabello, Shuzhen Yao, Xin Zheng, Jiaxiao Bao, Ming Tang, Xiangtong Wu, Lu Yu, Yue Yu
Lighting Design Consultant: Viabizzuno
Construction Drawings Consultant: D-one
Construction: Juzhong Decoration

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