Steven Holl’s ‘Writing With Light House’ Plays with the Light That Filters through Its Wooden Skin
American architect and watercolorist Steven Holl was inspired by Jackson Pollock’s 1949 ‘Seven in Eight’ paintings when designing this stunning property. Called the ‘Writing With Light House’, it stands near the former abstract expressionist painter’s studio on Long Island and features wide-open interiors brightened with natural light. Boasting a striking linear wooden skin that lets the elements filter through, the power of this design can be best appreciated when the light lines inside play with the spaces throughout the day.
Standing at the mouth of a river flowing into the Atlantic Ocean, this wooden Long Island residence works with the elements. This 5,500-square-foot dwelling is clad in a slatted timber facade that lets sunshine and marine breezes filter in. Its open frame allows the sun to project lines inside, which dynamically change within the spaces as the sun moves during the day.
Made from several volumes, it was constructed mainly of local wood and glass. Its balloon frame construction can be compared to the strip wood sand dune fencing typically found along the ocean. The home opens up towards the bay overlooking the Atlantic Ocean on the north and closes itself up for privacy on the south facade.
The architect, who is also an artist, took inspiration from Jackson Pollock‘s free-form designs when creating a series of guest’s rooms that swirl around the double level central living room of this stunning house that plays with the sun.
See more of Steven Holl’s playful creations here.
Photos courtesy of Steven Holl
