Location: Lake Orta, Italy Year of construction: 1987 Architect: Alessandro Mendini Photography: Occhiomagico
Alessandro Mendini’s design for what has come to be known as “The House of Happiness” was the result of his friendship with the owner, a well-known Italian industrial designer, and his understanding of the needs and personality of his friend.
Mendini has a keen interest in the psychological and anthropological aspects of architecture and this is what inspired the owner to entrust him with this delicate task. Moreover, as far as the owner was concerned, the fact that Mendini had never designed a house before made him the ideal candidate, as he would feel greater motivation when faced with a new challenge.
One of the main factors to be taken into account was that the house must be designed to suit the lifestyle of its occupants. The use of color, the form of the rooms, and the symmetry or lack of it are key elements that were decided by mutual agreement between the architect and the owner as they greatly impact upon the quality of life the house can offer. Hence the name "The House of Happiness”: the pursuit of happiness being a key element of the design from the outset. The name later took on a second meaning: “happy” not only in the sense of a house designed for comfort and convenience, but also in the sense of authentic, well-conceived, and free.
The structure of the building had to be different and experimental, a house full of the unexpected, free of rigid plans. The aim was to give visitors a feeling of continuous surprise and the expectation of new discoveries in every room.
R ight-hand page: The wooden ceiling and parquet floor bring warmth to the gym.
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Light, sinuous form and contrasting materials give this room its character.
The main living room is dominated by the fireplace designed by Ettore Sottsas.