I know I'm supposed to love this, but...

I just can't. As a (wannabe) designer, I realize that this is a very important house, revolutionary idea, etc., but I feel sad instead. This is from the NY Times article, Surrendering to the Landscape and is built by architect Tom Kundig and his wife (also a designer) in southern Idaho. Take a moment to look at that view; isn't it incredible? Then you look down at that cement and glass BOX of a dwelling and you say, OH COME ON. Take a look at the rest of the house:

I'll admit that if I were there where she is standing I'd be just dying over that view, but what if you were on that mountain behind her? She's blocking the view!!

Big block cement wall.

This is their garden. Beautiful rose garden with thick cement walls on either side. What's the point?

I love the idea of the windows on either side of the fireplace. That's amazing.

View of the modular living room.

AMAZING view of the mountains while they make me dinner. This is the kitchen, btw.

Lots of books. For some reason though, that fabric on the chairs doesn't really say contemporary/ modern home in the desert.

This isn't part of the article but it's a picture of an uninterrupted beautiful landscape in the same area as the home above.

I do love some aspects of this home, however it just doesn't feel right to me to place that little block in the middle of something so majestic and beautiful in nature. Is there a way that we can have a neat looking house in the middle of a gorgeous landscape without making it look like that? I get it; it's the juxtaposition of the two forms, but I think it's too obvious. I'm over it. Also, doesn't it seem strange that people are railing about destroying our environment, animal's natural habitats etc, yet we're supposed to be in awe of this home? Up by my parents' home, there is a house that is partially underground. It's SO cool looking and there's just a simple silo coming up from the ground (the rest of the house is built into the side of the hill--and it doesn't destroy the view of the Berkshires. Thoughts? Please don't yell at me.


Alicia B.