robert gallo | the double villa

the double villa

Any effort to reinterpret one of the most famous villas of this Scottish architectural giant is bound to be

a full-scale challenge. The Double Villa is a generous modern equivalent of the original building with one important difference – it has been conceived in the most complex urbanistic conditions, which greatly influences its shape.

The land of this villa is divided in two parts. The large grass area and trees in the north stays practically intact.

The project thus preserves the pattern of small triangular parks running along Nithsdale Road on one hand, while on the other it manages to effortlessly isolate the inhabitants of the villa from the busy junction.

second floor = private space

first floor = communal space

ground floor = entrance area

The functional arrangement of the villa is based mainly on its position as a solitary building limited by the urban built-up area with

a complete lack of privacy on the parterre level. The ground floor, therefore, contains only the entrance area and the facilities surrounded by a winter garden, which worksas a filter between the public exterior and the private interior of the villa.

terraces = garden of the villa

The first floor represents an open communal space divided only by furniture wall units. The owners can therefore meet their needs and change the arrangement of the space according to their requirements.

A generous terrace complements the room and makes up for a missing garden. The second floor offers enough space for a family of four and a guest to sleep or rest.

The project is of course based on the principles of the Double Villa from 1856, which consisted of two

semi-detached houses rotated around each other to create the illusion of one large villa with two pairs of identical views. Both buildings share a common atrium, which lets light to the centre of both areas: the game room on the ground floor or if needed, the terrace on

the first floor.

On the outside, the Villa also aspires to adopt Thomson’s architectural language, albeit in a contemporary

and abstract form. The uncompromising horizontal line of the perimeter is complementary to the vertical components of the structure, the symmetrical footprint of the main building being balanced with the overall asymmetry of the terraces.

the double villa

The land of this villa is divided in two parts. The large grass area and trees in the north stays practically intact.

The project thus preserves the pattern of small triangular parks running along Nithsdale Road on one hand, while on the other it manages to effortlessly isolate the inhabitants of the villa from the busy junction.

second floor = private space

first floor = communal space

ground floor = entrance area

The functional arrangement of the villa is based mainly on its position as a solitary building limited by the urban built-up area with

a complete lack of privacy on the parterre level. The ground floor, therefore, contains only the entrance area and the facilities surrounded by a winter garden, which worksas a filter between the public exterior and the private interior of the villa.

terraces = garden of the villa

The first floor represents an open communal space divided only by furniture wall units. The owners can therefore meet their needs and change the arrangement of the space according to their requirements.

A generous terrace complements the room and makes up for a missing garden. The second floor offers enough space for a family of four and a guest to sleep or rest.

The project is of course based on the principles of the Double Villa from 1856, which consisted of two

semi-detached houses rotated around each other to create the illusion of one large villa with two pairs of identical views. Both buildings share a common atrium, which lets light to the centre of both areas: the game room on the ground floor or if needed, the terrace on

the first floor.

On the outside, the Villa also aspires to adopt Thomson’s architectural language, albeit in a contemporary

and abstract form. The uncompromising horizontal line of the perimeter is complementary to the vertical components of the structure, the symmetrical footprint of the main building being balanced with the overall asymmetry of the terraces.

the double villa - homage to architect Alexander Thomson

status: public architectural competition - competition entry

location: Glasgow, SCT

year: 2017

the double villa

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The land of this villa is divided in two parts. The large grass area and trees in the north stays practically intact.

The project thus preserves the pattern of small triangular parks running along Nithsdale Road on one hand, while on the other it manages to effortlessly isolate the inhabitants of the villa from the busy junction.

second floor = private space

first floor = communal space

ground floor = entrance area

The functional arrangement of the villa is based mainly on its position as a solitary building limited by the urban built-up area with

a complete lack of privacy on the parterre level. The ground floor, therefore, contains only the entrance area and the facilities surrounded by a winter garden, which worksas a filter between the public exterior and the private interior of the villa.

terraces = garden of the villa

The first floor represents an open communal space divided only by furniture wall units. The owners can therefore meet their needs and change the arrangement of the space according to their requirements.

A generous terrace complements the room and makes up for a missing garden. The second floor offers enough space for a family of four and a guest to sleep or rest.

The project is of course based on the principles of the Double Villa from 1856, which consisted of two

semi-detached houses rotated around each other to create the illusion of one large villa with two pairs of identical views. Both buildings share a common atrium, which lets light to the centre of both areas: the game room on the ground floor or if needed, the terrace on

the first floor.

On the outside, the Villa also aspires to adopt Thomson’s architectural language, albeit in a contemporary

and abstract form. The uncompromising horizontal line of the perimeter is complementary to the vertical components of the structure, the symmetrical footprint of the main building being balanced with the overall asymmetry of the terraces.

the double villa - homage to architect Alexander Thomson

status: public architectural competition - competition entry

location: Glasgow, SCT

year: 2017