The structure of Villa VPRO, floors supported by a grid of columns and stabilising props, ensures that rooms retain the greatest possible transparency. Technical facilities are hidden in the hollow floor, whose Spartan character serves as a commentary on the addictive aspects of present-day air-conditioning installations. The floors are fed with air, data and electricity through semi-transparent shafts.
The materialisation of Villa VPRO acknowledges that of its predecessors: no lowered ceilings but a ‘real’ ceiling, no prefabricated walls but stone, steel, wood and plastic, no mass produced carpeting but Persian and sisal rugs, no small windows but elevations articulated by storey-high apertures affording generous views and access to the garden, balcony, terrace and patio. In production studios, acoustic insulation is ensured by an assortment of materials, wood, coconut fibre, fabric, steel and stone that provide a refreshing departure from standard fibre-cement panels.
