Research

Finding detailed information in the library on the villa mairea, initially proved to be rather difficult given the fact that by the time I got to the library, the Aalto section had been wiped clear. I later spent sometime searching the library database, looking for journals and other e-resources, but had little luck with that, apart from finding a digital copy of "Twenty buildings every architect should understand", by Simon Unwin.

Not to worry, the "preview" tool on Google books, meant that I was able to browse and read through many books specifically dealing with the architecture of Aalto and the VM. After taking screenshots of the pages featured in the previews, improving the legibility and saving to PDF, I printed off many pages of info on the VM and spent time on the train the next day analysing and annotating the info (as you can see in the photo above).

Whilst much of the information was repetitive and shallow observations, a few sources suggested interesting conceptual notions and as a consequence were rather helpful.

A few ideas that I found interesting about the "VM":

 - The L-shape present within, is a vernacular layout in Scandinavian architecture

 - The materiality and form of the VM reflect verticality at a micro level, and horizontality at a macro level (much like nature)

 - Many comparisons have been drawn to "fallingwater" by FLW

 - The white exterior walls reflect the internationalist style, forming a contrast with the surrounding environment

 - "Interpenetration of the outside", is evident in the way the house encloses an interior courtyard

 - The exterior entrance "canopy" invites people into the building by means of "interpenetration of the inside"

 - Comparisons can easily be made between the columns present within the VM and the trees surrounding it

 - The column based structural grid is dominated by the design, rather than the design being dominated by the strict implentation of a grid (i.e. the grid is irregular in layout)