MarcoPolo House
Architecture Studio III

Prof. Maria Denegri
Sep-Dec, 2018


As the ramp that determines the layout of the house descends, the more private the space becomes.

This studio project starts with an investigation on a precedent study. Key concepts of the precedent study are then brought forward into the design of a house for two clients.
In my investigation of Casa Malaparte, I was fascinated by the choreographed and directional circulation that resembled a pilgrimage. This concept inspired the layout of the Marco Polo House - the house of a writer (Mark) and chef (Paolo).

The parti of Marco Polo House - a descending ramp that determines spatial privacy - was inspired by a close study of Casa Malaparte. The “origami diagram” below showcases how -the use of stairs, occupiable roofs, and pilgrimage-like circulation of Casa Malaparte was identified and brought into my work.

The site, located near High Park Station in Toronto, faces several edge conditions: One is the dramatic change in topography and the second is the contrast in busyness. The elevated and traffic-heavy Bloor Street creates a strong contrast with the sunken and quiet High Park.

The clients, Mark (author) and Paolo (chef) share this house together but both have specific needs. Mark needs a house that can store 2500 books, while Paolo needs an herb garden and a 10-person dining space to cater his guests. The program and layouts of this house is dictated by circulation spaces of this house – interior ramps. As the ramp descends, the more private the space becomes. The ramps are highlighted by the bookshelves for Mark – making a journey around the house a journey in the literary world. The ramps are then once again highlighted by a glass box, making the Marco Polo House a “house within a house”.

The axonometric diagram below showcases how the living spaces are surrounded by interior ramps, sandwiched between bookshelves, enclosed by a glass house, and encompassed by exterior stairs.