The concept of the house is inspired by the surrounding relief forms at the foot of Tâmpa Mountain, on the Snails’ Hill ([RO] Dealul Melcilor) – hence the name “Snail House” – as well as the client’s request to create an open “round” shaped interior staircase. The house is situated on a deforested southern slope of the hill, at the upper limit of the buildable area, and benefits from a wide descending panoramic view of 180 degrees over a part of the city. The volumetric composition of the house reveals at the basement level a solid, prismatic base, well integrated into the hill, used as support for the upper volume with fluid-organic lines suggesting an enveloping and growing movement, similar to a snail shell, which encompasses the upper levels of the ground floor and first floor, along with the vertical circulation that connects them. This approach with fluid-organic forms of the upper volume is primarily evident on the exterior, particularly noticeable in the envelope that covers the staircase, but also through the use of rounded shapes at the corners of the house and window frames. At the same time, we aimed for the fluid-organic forms to be felt inside the house as well, through the semicircular staircase open to the living room and the exposure of the outer envelope shapes, using round-section pillars, and the curved lines at the level of the suspended ceiling on the ground floor, in the living room area. The exterior finishes were chosen to support the concept of the volumetric composition of the house by using materials contrasting in terms of color and texture. Thus, the base volume is clad in dark green, chiseled natural stone, cut into narrow slabs placed in horizontal courses, which seem to grow out of the natural terrain, while the upper volume is finished with white decorative plaster with a fine texture, allowing the light and shadow play to highlight the fluid-organic forms. Between these two volumes, to the south, lies the transparent register of glazing that borders the living room on three sides. The described volumes have an increasing footprint from one level to another, generating a succession of cantilevers both to the south and north, in the entrance area of the house, creating additional dynamics to the ensemble, which impresses any viewer.
