RE04
Semester Research «Building & Landscape»
Elisa Zappa
HS20
Research: Muuratsalo Experimental House, 1952-1954
Architect: Alvar Aalto
Location: Jyväskylä, Finland
Type: Summer House
Sources: https://www.alvaraalto.fi/en/architecture/muuratsalo-experimental-house/.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Muuratsalo Experimental House is the summer house of Alvar Aalto and is located on the western shore of the island of the same name in Lake Päijänne. Inside the property, there are several buildings: the house, a woodshed and a smoke sauna.
Muuratsalo Experimental House consists of the main building, built in 1952, and a research-wing from 1953. The first building has an L-shape and the walls enclose an inner courtyard that opens to the south and west. The courtyard focuses on the interior of the space, but at the same time directs a view of the lake.
The surrounding landscape plays a fundamental role in architecture. Natural elements such as moss-covered stones, bushes and trees contrast with the brick wall and the white colors of the house. In this composition, the relationship between the building and the landscape is very important. Thanks to the white brick walls that give the whole a feeling of ruin, it seems that the building comes out of the ground and has been part of the landscape for a long time. In contrast to this, however, the building does not have very deep foundations; it is as if the architect wanted to give the idea of a solid, massive, durable building, but without changing too much the surrounding nature.
Moreover, towards the courtyard, the building establishes a solid relationship with the surrounding nature in an apparently closed but at the same time open place. This space is perhaps the most interesting and the most important of the house because it is not left in its natural state, but rather the hand of man changes it, while trying to maintain the view towards an intact nature. Various activities take place in this space; it can be a space for recreation in contact with nature, a space for reflection or even a meeting place thanks to the open fireplace in the heart of the patio.
