14/09/2016

STORIESOFHOUSES:TheStrettoHouseinDallas,byStevenHoll

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TheStrettoHouseinDallas,byStevenHoll
narratedby:
halldraarnardttir

PhdArtHistorian
javiersnchezmerina

PhDArchitect

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The Stretto House (1989 1992) in Dallas, Texas, was designed by

the American architect Steven Holl for clients who had an
extraordinary art collection and a beautiful site. They did not
imposeanyconditionsontothearchitectbuttoldhim"youcando
whatyouwant."Whatwastherespondtosuchafreedom?
Lookingforastoryofthehouse
Right from the beginning of the project, the Stretto House was ideal. To
startwith,oneoftheclientshadbeenbroughtupinahousedesignedby
the mythical figure, Frank Lloyd Wright which meant that the client had
already inherited from his family a love for architecture. Furthermore,
when Steven Holl visited the site on which he had to work, he found
himselfinalandscapecharacterisedbyariverthatfedthreeponds,each
contained within small concrete walls over which water flowed, making a
constantmurmuringsound.
Talking to one of his students, who also had been a student of the
prestigiousJuilliardSchoolofMusicinNewYork,Hollaskedifheknewany
musicalcompositionthatwasstructuredinparalleltothewaterthatflowed
on the site. The student told him about the "Stretto" form where one
musicalphraseoverlappedanother.ItwasthenthattheMusicforstrings,
percussions and celesta written in 1936 by the Hungarian composer Bla
Bartkcametotheirmind.Thispieceofmusicwasdividedintofourparts
and characterised by overlapping percussions (heavy) and string
instruments (light). Powerful flows of rhythmical divisions and irregular
tensions made time seem to stand still or to rush forward with irresistible
momentum.
Ittookthearchitectsixmonthstocomeupwithasketchtoahousewhich
was structured around this fourpart musical composition. The challenge
came in maintaining and materialising in the construction of the house as
anideaofanaqueousspace.
ThemusicoftheStrettoHouse
Steven Holl admired the connections between the traditional and the
modern in Bartk's music. Similarly, as Bartok's extraordinary
compositions reverberated original melodies, the Stretto house built an
aqueous space with traditional materials, its polished concrete blocks and
metal structure forming part of Texas's vernacular architecture. These
traditional materials were used in all four sections of the house, each of
which is divided into two units: the first is rectangular heavy masonry
whichmakesreferencetotheconcretedamsonthesite,andthesecondis
of light and curvilinear metal which covers the various rooms living
room,artstorageroom,office,diningroomandbreakfastcorner.Eachof
the rectangular masonry contains a service zone for the house the
staircases that lead to a bedroom and a sitting room, bathrooms, library
andthekitchen.Thelastsectionofthehouseisapartiallycoveredpond,
afloodedroom.
The approach to the house via a driveway bridging the stream gives
access to a stone courtyard with a fountain. Immediately upon arrival at
thehouse,theoverlappingofspacesoccurringinthehouseisrevealed.If
the plan is orthogonal, the section is curvilinear. In the guesthouse this
interplayofstraightandcurvedwasreversed,similartotheinversionsof
thesubjectinthefirstmovementoftheBartk'sMusic.
The "Stretto" form enabled Steven Holl to divide the space in such a way
thateachpartwasimportantforthenext.Theflowofthespaceevolvedin
differentways:thefloorsurfaceoverlapsthenextlevel,theroofoverlaps

http://storiesofhouses.blogspot.com.br/2006/04/strettohouseindallasbystevenholl.html

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14/09/2016

STORIESOFHOUSES:TheStrettoHouseinDallas,byStevenHoll
walls and the curvilinear walls pull the daylight down into the interior
space.Thewaterwhichflowsoverthedamsandseemstosymbolizethe
overlappingoftheStrettoformalsotakespartinthisgame,asitserves
to reflect in the landscape the overlapping taking place in the interior
spaceofthehouse.
In the Stretto house Steven Holl appeals to the senses and plays upon
artistic perception and understanding of the site. It is the pleasure of
experimenting architecture with spatial and light sequences, textures,
smells,andsounds.
Photos:PaulWarchol
a.StevenHoll(b.1947)architect.
b. Stretto is an Italian term which, in a musical context, talks about the emotional
tensionthatisintensifiedbymeansofanoverlappingofinstruments.Musicforstrings,
percussions,andcelestabyBlaBartk(18811945).
c+d. Drawings of Stretto house a work that received the Honorary National Prize
(1993)fromtheInstituteofAmericanArchitects.
e.PlanofStrettoHouse'sgroundfloor:1.Terrace,2.Garage,3.Entry,4.Livingroom,5.
Artstorageroom,6.Library,7.Study,8.Diningroom,9.Breakfastarea,10.Kitchen,11.
Garden,12.Pool,13.Floodedroom.
f.FormulaformusicandarchitectureinterpretedbyStevenHoll:Materialxsound/time
=materialxlight/space.
g.Themodelshowstherelationshipbetweenthehouse,thedamsandtheguesthouse.
h.StevenHollwasnominatedbytheTimeMagazineasthebestAmericanarchitect"for
buildingsthatsatisfythemindaswellastheeye.
i.Influencefromthemusicisfoundinthefurniture.Woollencarpetsweredesignedwith
musicalscoresandfloatontheglossyblackterrazzofloors.

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