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These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated: 1 00:00:00,931 --> 00:00:02,002 [birds chirping] [gentle music] 2 00:00:02,002 --> 00:00:03,417 [Narrator] Imagine, 3 00:00:03,417 --> 00:00:06,661 living in a home that sits, secluded in a forest, 4 00:00:09,664 --> 00:00:12,219 on a 100 kilometer beach, 5 00:00:14,290 --> 00:00:16,188 or on top of a mountain. 6 00:00:17,741 --> 00:00:22,746 [helicopter rumbling] [gentle music] 7 00:00:27,889 --> 00:00:30,133 In this series, we travel the globe 8 00:00:30,133 --> 00:00:34,034 to explore some of the world's most secret homes, 9 00:00:35,828 --> 00:00:40,178 hidden away in truly inspiring locations, 10 00:00:41,524 --> 00:00:44,078 from jungle hideaways 11 00:00:44,078 --> 00:00:46,770 and secluded mountain cabins-- 12 00:00:46,770 --> 00:00:48,393 This is what it's all about. 13 00:00:48,393 --> 00:00:49,187 I love it! 14 00:00:50,395 --> 00:00:52,190 [Narrator] To coastal sanctuaries, 15 00:00:54,537 --> 00:00:56,608 and desert retreats-- 16 00:00:56,608 --> 00:00:59,024 It does something to your soul. [laughs] 17 00:00:59,024 --> 00:01:00,232 [Narrator] We explore 18 00:01:00,232 --> 00:01:03,063 how these spectacular homes were built-- 19 00:01:03,063 --> 00:01:07,308 It was amazing because it was lost for 70 years. 20 00:01:07,308 --> 00:01:09,828 [Narrator] And meet the people who live in them. 21 00:01:11,209 --> 00:01:14,039 People come in and say, "Oh wow." [laughs] 22 00:01:14,039 --> 00:01:15,282 No one's expecting it. 23 00:01:16,731 --> 00:01:20,942 [Narrator] As we discover the world's most secret homes. 24 00:01:23,083 --> 00:01:26,258 [gentle, quiet music] 25 00:01:31,850 --> 00:01:35,336 The eastern townships in Quebec, Canada, 26 00:01:35,336 --> 00:01:38,028 are two hours east of the city of Montreal. 27 00:01:41,066 --> 00:01:44,587 The area is renowned for its open countryside 28 00:01:44,587 --> 00:01:46,554 and pristine lakes. 29 00:01:46,554 --> 00:01:48,936 This is where city dwellers come 30 00:01:48,936 --> 00:01:51,111 for an adventure in the wilderness. 31 00:01:53,423 --> 00:01:56,288 The mountains and cliffs here are the perfect place 32 00:01:56,288 --> 00:01:59,533 to build a secret home with the ultimate view. 33 00:02:04,158 --> 00:02:09,163 [gentle, quiet music] [birds chirping] 34 00:02:10,544 --> 00:02:14,203 Teetering on the edge of a 25 meter high cliff, 35 00:02:17,413 --> 00:02:20,381 this small but perfectly formed home 36 00:02:20,381 --> 00:02:23,004 basks in the surrounding wilderness. 37 00:02:23,902 --> 00:02:27,733 [gentle, inspirational music] 38 00:02:30,219 --> 00:02:32,945 It's called the Binocular Cabin. 39 00:02:34,775 --> 00:02:37,536 [birds chirping] 40 00:02:42,403 --> 00:02:46,545 The owner and mastermind behind this daring clifftop home 41 00:02:46,545 --> 00:02:47,960 is Pierre-Andre. 42 00:02:50,273 --> 00:02:53,552 When I came here the first time and I was walking, 43 00:02:53,552 --> 00:02:55,451 actually, I was doing snowshoeing here, 44 00:02:59,179 --> 00:03:01,077 And I fell in love with the view here. 45 00:03:02,975 --> 00:03:04,874 [Narrator] Bewitched by the area, 46 00:03:04,874 --> 00:03:06,772 he decided to buy a plot. 47 00:03:09,637 --> 00:03:13,434 But, got a little bit more than he bargained for. 48 00:03:14,573 --> 00:03:16,955 I didn't know I was owning the cliff. 49 00:03:16,955 --> 00:03:19,820 I thought the cliff was close to the land I owned, 50 00:03:19,820 --> 00:03:22,132 but when we did the survey to build the house, 51 00:03:22,132 --> 00:03:25,032 he told me, "Actually, you own the cliff." 52 00:03:25,032 --> 00:03:27,862 Then the total project changed. 53 00:03:29,657 --> 00:03:32,108 I said, "Well, we have to focus on the view." 54 00:03:34,559 --> 00:03:37,147 It was like if I was winning like the lottery game. 55 00:03:37,147 --> 00:03:38,114 I was so happy. 56 00:03:40,047 --> 00:03:42,049 [Narrator] Entranced by the view, 57 00:03:42,049 --> 00:03:43,982 Pierre decided to design the house 58 00:03:43,982 --> 00:03:46,087 like a pair of binoculars, 59 00:03:46,087 --> 00:03:48,607 gazing out from the side of the mountian. 60 00:03:49,677 --> 00:03:52,232 [birds chirping] 61 00:03:52,232 --> 00:03:54,234 [Pierre] I see it right there, 62 00:03:54,234 --> 00:03:56,408 was just like a vision we had. 63 00:03:58,030 --> 00:04:01,241 I knew that I wanted to have a house with two cubes 64 00:04:01,241 --> 00:04:03,588 or two models with two different functions. 65 00:04:05,693 --> 00:04:09,249 [Narrator] The house covers 85 square meters. 66 00:04:09,249 --> 00:04:11,734 Two simple, black and wood cubes 67 00:04:11,734 --> 00:04:13,701 are linked by a covered walkway. 68 00:04:15,116 --> 00:04:17,843 The larger of the two contains the living space, 69 00:04:19,293 --> 00:04:23,297 open-plan kitchen diner, which leads out onto the terrace, 70 00:04:23,297 --> 00:04:24,298 and a bathroom. 71 00:04:25,506 --> 00:04:28,302 The smaller cube contains two bedrooms. 72 00:04:30,235 --> 00:04:33,825 [gentle, orchestral music] 73 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:40,935 Constructing the cabin, 74 00:04:40,935 --> 00:04:44,249 perched 25 meters above the valley floor, 75 00:04:44,249 --> 00:04:46,286 was a huge engineering feat. 76 00:04:47,804 --> 00:04:50,738 Pierre worked with architect, Stephane Rasselet 77 00:04:50,738 --> 00:04:53,016 to overcome the challenging terrain. 78 00:04:55,053 --> 00:04:57,055 There's not much room for error. 79 00:04:58,781 --> 00:05:01,439 The idea was to get as close as we could 80 00:05:01,439 --> 00:05:03,510 to the edge of that cliff, 81 00:05:03,510 --> 00:05:05,512 where we've got an 80 foot drop. 82 00:05:06,927 --> 00:05:10,896 And with the engineers, we tried to go as far as possible 83 00:05:10,896 --> 00:05:12,691 without being dangerous. 84 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:16,695 [gentle, quiet music] 85 00:05:20,872 --> 00:05:23,288 [Narrator] Standing proud on the mountain, 86 00:05:23,288 --> 00:05:27,637 the Binocular Cabin conceals an unusual design secret. 87 00:05:30,778 --> 00:05:33,643 On approach, it's hidden from view. 88 00:05:34,851 --> 00:05:36,646 Since the road is sort of curved, 89 00:05:36,646 --> 00:05:38,579 there's this effective surprise, 90 00:05:38,579 --> 00:05:42,687 we start seeing these two, black volumes. 91 00:05:46,932 --> 00:05:49,832 There's this sensation of not knowing 92 00:05:49,832 --> 00:05:52,317 really if it's a house or a refuge, 93 00:05:53,974 --> 00:05:55,355 until we walk in, 94 00:05:57,633 --> 00:06:01,395 and then we walk into the living room and then, wow. 95 00:06:03,708 --> 00:06:06,158 So there's this element of surprise. 96 00:06:07,125 --> 00:06:10,680 [rhythmic, dramatic music] 97 00:06:11,819 --> 00:06:14,339 What surprised me about the house is just, 98 00:06:14,339 --> 00:06:15,961 look at the view, it's beautiful. 99 00:06:18,101 --> 00:06:20,276 You're so close to the cliff, like this. 100 00:06:22,658 --> 00:06:24,384 You don't see the ground from here. 101 00:06:25,592 --> 00:06:29,181 [rhythmic, dramatic music] 102 00:06:31,667 --> 00:06:34,704 [Narrator] To focus on the panoramic views, 103 00:06:34,704 --> 00:06:36,223 Pierre installed windows 104 00:06:36,223 --> 00:06:39,951 made up of three, giant panes of glass. 105 00:06:39,951 --> 00:06:42,540 The panes are connected together with silicone. 106 00:06:43,955 --> 00:06:47,372 [gentle, dramatic music] 107 00:06:52,170 --> 00:06:56,174 The kitchen area is compact, but fully functional, 108 00:06:56,174 --> 00:06:59,833 designed to take up very little space. 109 00:06:59,833 --> 00:07:02,283 With a house that's less then 1,000 square feet, 110 00:07:02,283 --> 00:07:03,871 you have to rethink about things. 111 00:07:03,871 --> 00:07:07,772 Usually the stove, usually, in North America, 112 00:07:07,772 --> 00:07:09,256 the standard is 30 inches. 113 00:07:09,256 --> 00:07:12,432 We tried to put, like a cooktop that was smaller like this. 114 00:07:12,432 --> 00:07:14,157 And same for the dishwasher, 115 00:07:14,157 --> 00:07:16,953 the dishwasher is way smaller than what we were used to. 116 00:07:19,335 --> 00:07:21,371 I really like things to be invisible. 117 00:07:21,371 --> 00:07:23,339 You don't see the washer, dryer. 118 00:07:23,339 --> 00:07:26,204 Again, it's hidden, I really like things that are hidden. 119 00:07:27,619 --> 00:07:30,864 [Narrator] This sleek finish continues into the hallway. 120 00:07:32,417 --> 00:07:34,315 If you look at the [mutters] here, 121 00:07:34,315 --> 00:07:36,732 you know, it has to feel like, that this is a wall. 122 00:07:41,530 --> 00:07:43,221 [cheerful, upbeat music] 123 00:07:43,221 --> 00:07:44,464 [Narrator] The master bedroom 124 00:07:44,464 --> 00:07:47,467 sits in the smaller of the two cubes. 125 00:07:47,467 --> 00:07:52,472 Minimalist in style, the eye is drawn to the dramatic views. 126 00:07:53,783 --> 00:07:56,717 It's not like a huge bedroom, 127 00:07:56,717 --> 00:07:58,547 but it gives everything that I need. 128 00:08:00,169 --> 00:08:01,860 Still facing south, you have, 129 00:08:01,860 --> 00:08:04,414 like with the big windows and the view also. 130 00:08:06,658 --> 00:08:08,971 When you open the curtain in the morning, 131 00:08:08,971 --> 00:08:10,938 you have the sunrise. 132 00:08:12,975 --> 00:08:15,529 And after that, the sun is going like this. 133 00:08:18,912 --> 00:08:22,398 [gentle, dramatic music] 134 00:08:22,398 --> 00:08:25,608 [Narrator] Hovering precariously close to the clifftop, 135 00:08:25,608 --> 00:08:30,302 Stephan pushed the boundaries of this home over the edge. 136 00:08:30,302 --> 00:08:32,995 We built the house as close as possible 137 00:08:32,995 --> 00:08:34,444 to the cliff as we could. 138 00:08:36,308 --> 00:08:38,138 This is as far as we could go, 139 00:08:38,138 --> 00:08:40,658 with anchoring the foundation. 140 00:08:40,658 --> 00:08:42,245 But then we wanted more. 141 00:08:42,245 --> 00:08:46,595 So what we did is we extended out the whole house 142 00:08:46,595 --> 00:08:49,287 by about six extra feet. 143 00:08:49,287 --> 00:08:53,429 So, inside the house, we really have the sensation 144 00:08:53,429 --> 00:08:56,156 of being over the edge of the trees 145 00:08:56,156 --> 00:08:57,882 and floating into midair. 146 00:08:59,055 --> 00:09:02,403 We gave a slight angle to the edge of the wall, 147 00:09:02,403 --> 00:09:04,095 on this side. [dramatic music] 148 00:09:04,095 --> 00:09:07,201 The house sort of looks like it's tipping over. 149 00:09:07,201 --> 00:09:11,654 This sort of emphasizes this feeling of projection 150 00:09:11,654 --> 00:09:13,691 and [mutters] out the house. 151 00:09:14,726 --> 00:09:18,143 [gentle, dramatic music] 152 00:09:21,284 --> 00:09:23,010 [Narrator] Engineers had to reinforce 153 00:09:23,010 --> 00:09:25,737 the foundations of the cabin to enable it 154 00:09:25,737 --> 00:09:28,084 to protrude over the cliff edge safely. 155 00:09:29,430 --> 00:09:32,157 They hammered the rock with pneumatic drills 156 00:09:33,365 --> 00:09:35,989 and drove metal piles deep into the bedrock. 157 00:09:38,301 --> 00:09:40,614 They constructed concrete blocks on top 158 00:09:40,614 --> 00:09:43,272 to form a firm base for the cabin to sit on. 159 00:09:46,758 --> 00:09:51,763 [gentle music] [birds chirping] 160 00:09:53,144 --> 00:09:54,801 The Binocular Cabin offers a rare opportunity 161 00:09:54,801 --> 00:09:56,734 to commune with nature. 162 00:09:58,598 --> 00:10:02,394 Off the main cube is a small terrace, 163 00:10:02,394 --> 00:10:05,984 strategically placed to catch the evening light. 164 00:10:07,503 --> 00:10:10,920 One of the volumes is more oriented westward 165 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:13,751 and the other one is more oriented eastward. 166 00:10:13,751 --> 00:10:17,617 It would, on one side, take advantage more of the sunset 167 00:10:17,617 --> 00:10:19,066 and on the other side, 168 00:10:19,066 --> 00:10:22,345 that would take more advantage of the sunrise. 169 00:10:25,348 --> 00:10:28,489 The house is nice, but the terrace is pretty great 170 00:10:28,489 --> 00:10:30,664 when you just wanna chill and have a drink. 171 00:10:32,321 --> 00:10:33,322 At the end of the afternoon, 172 00:10:33,322 --> 00:10:34,668 the sun is there with the sunset. 173 00:10:36,083 --> 00:10:38,568 [gentle music] [birds chirping] 174 00:10:38,568 --> 00:10:39,846 When it's minus 35, 175 00:10:39,846 --> 00:10:41,502 the dare is just to go barefoot 176 00:10:41,502 --> 00:10:44,644 and just go and jump in the spa, with a drink. 177 00:10:46,231 --> 00:10:48,855 You're sitting in the spa and you still have the view. 178 00:10:51,098 --> 00:10:53,894 I feel I'm pretty fortunate, just to be here, 179 00:10:53,894 --> 00:10:57,484 just a little jewel in all this nature. 180 00:10:58,934 --> 00:11:02,109 I'm pretty proud of it, what we've done with the architect. 181 00:11:02,109 --> 00:11:05,181 Oh the view is just like, yeah, it's amazing. 182 00:11:07,183 --> 00:11:09,323 [Narrator] This house is a testament 183 00:11:09,323 --> 00:11:10,980 to Pierre's determination 184 00:11:10,980 --> 00:11:14,743 to create a wilderness retreat with the ultimate view. 185 00:11:15,813 --> 00:11:19,333 [gentle, inspiring music] 186 00:11:24,891 --> 00:11:28,032 [gentle, dramatic music] 187 00:11:28,032 --> 00:11:31,311 5,200 kilometers east 188 00:11:31,311 --> 00:11:36,316 is the northern Portuguese city of Marco de Canaveses. 189 00:11:37,489 --> 00:11:39,250 Sitting at the meeting point of the River Douro 190 00:11:39,250 --> 00:11:40,734 and River Tamega, 191 00:11:40,734 --> 00:11:43,703 it's an area of outstanding natural beauty. 192 00:11:45,221 --> 00:11:49,260 Clusters of houses here, nestle into the steep hillsides, 193 00:11:49,260 --> 00:11:51,641 offering a tranquil way of living. 194 00:11:52,781 --> 00:11:57,751 [birds chirping] [quiet music] 195 00:11:59,822 --> 00:12:02,514 900 meters above sea level, 196 00:12:02,514 --> 00:12:05,863 [gentle, inspirational music] 197 00:12:05,863 --> 00:12:10,833 set deep into these hills, and shrouded by dense forest, 198 00:12:10,833 --> 00:12:14,319 [gentle, inspirational music] 199 00:12:14,319 --> 00:12:18,634 lies a home that appears firmly rooted into its surrounding. 200 00:12:19,497 --> 00:12:23,915 [gentle, inspirational music] 201 00:12:23,915 --> 00:12:26,918 This home is called The Cloaked House 202 00:12:26,918 --> 00:12:30,750 because it is almost completely enveloped by trees. 203 00:12:31,751 --> 00:12:35,306 [gentle, orchestral music] 204 00:12:37,687 --> 00:12:41,139 The owners of this house, engineer, Rui Afiera 205 00:12:41,139 --> 00:12:44,280 and his interior designer wife, Alexandra, 206 00:12:44,280 --> 00:12:47,870 built this romantic hideaway to escape from their busy lives 207 00:12:47,870 --> 00:12:50,493 in the nearby city of Porto. 208 00:12:50,493 --> 00:12:53,634 It took them a while to find the perfect spot, 209 00:12:53,634 --> 00:12:57,362 but when they saw this, they knew it was the right place. 210 00:12:57,362 --> 00:13:01,228 I called Rui and I say that I love this place. 211 00:13:01,228 --> 00:13:03,713 So we said, "Yes, this is perfect, 212 00:13:03,713 --> 00:13:06,820 "and if you are in love, we buy it." 213 00:13:06,820 --> 00:13:08,546 [Narrator] When creating The Cloaked House, 214 00:13:08,546 --> 00:13:11,445 it was important for Rui and Alexandra 215 00:13:11,445 --> 00:13:13,516 to keep this beautiful part of the forest 216 00:13:13,516 --> 00:13:15,829 as unspoiled as possible. 217 00:13:15,829 --> 00:13:20,213 [Alexandra] This place is magic, very, very magic. 218 00:13:20,213 --> 00:13:22,802 Everything is very, very beautiful. 219 00:13:22,802 --> 00:13:26,978 You have harmony with nature. 220 00:13:26,978 --> 00:13:31,983 I feel the flowers live with me and I live with the flowers. 221 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:35,849 [Rui] You mingle with nature. 222 00:13:35,849 --> 00:13:38,921 It's what we do, we try to mingle with nature. 223 00:13:38,921 --> 00:13:39,784 Nothing more. 224 00:13:42,787 --> 00:13:45,686 [Narrator] The home is built into the side of a hill. 225 00:13:45,686 --> 00:13:48,275 It's a mere 100 meters square 226 00:13:48,275 --> 00:13:50,588 and constructed all on one level. 227 00:13:51,692 --> 00:13:53,453 There is a 30 square meter terrace 228 00:13:53,453 --> 00:13:57,802 that projects out six meters, into the forest canopy. 229 00:13:57,802 --> 00:13:59,045 The terrace leads into 230 00:13:59,045 --> 00:14:02,427 the open-plan living room and kitchen. 231 00:14:02,427 --> 00:14:03,808 At the far end of the house 232 00:14:03,808 --> 00:14:06,984 is a bedroom with en suite bathroom. 233 00:14:06,984 --> 00:14:08,675 The terrace has sliding doors 234 00:14:08,675 --> 00:14:11,505 which enable the space to be opened up. 235 00:14:11,505 --> 00:14:13,853 Niches have been cut into the terrace 236 00:14:13,853 --> 00:14:15,993 to accommodate existing trees. 237 00:14:16,890 --> 00:14:20,238 [playful, upbeat music] 238 00:14:21,446 --> 00:14:24,242 [birds chirping] [quiet music] 239 00:14:24,242 --> 00:14:28,902 This fantasy cabin is crafted from wood, steel and glass 240 00:14:28,902 --> 00:14:31,456 to blend into its natural environment. 241 00:14:33,838 --> 00:14:35,391 The open-plan living space 242 00:14:35,391 --> 00:14:37,738 is suspended over the forest floor. 243 00:14:40,327 --> 00:14:44,228 Its elevated position makes the most of the light and view. 244 00:14:45,954 --> 00:14:48,439 Sitting next to the living and dining space 245 00:14:48,439 --> 00:14:50,993 is a small, but efficient kitchen. 246 00:14:52,408 --> 00:14:54,928 What we are trying to keep is a functional kitchen. 247 00:14:54,928 --> 00:14:59,484 With space, everything that you have here 248 00:14:59,484 --> 00:15:03,109 is integrated on one side of the house. 249 00:15:03,109 --> 00:15:07,182 Tried to have all the functionalities together. 250 00:15:07,182 --> 00:15:10,840 So on that, we concentrate everything in one place. 251 00:15:12,014 --> 00:15:14,706 It was, is to be free, to be completely free, 252 00:15:14,706 --> 00:15:15,984 without any disturbance. 253 00:15:18,503 --> 00:15:20,022 [Narrator] The home's clifftop position 254 00:15:20,022 --> 00:15:22,714 gives a sense of living in the treetops. 255 00:15:25,096 --> 00:15:28,824 One side of the house sits next to a secret, natural spring. 256 00:15:30,619 --> 00:15:33,035 The land stops, more or less, here, 257 00:15:34,140 --> 00:15:37,315 and we are suspended from the lake. 258 00:15:37,315 --> 00:15:40,318 [Narrator] The spring water falls into a manmade lagoon. 259 00:15:41,492 --> 00:15:43,977 A gentle trickle, during the hot summer, 260 00:15:43,977 --> 00:15:47,360 during the rains, this becomes a magical waterfall. 261 00:15:48,568 --> 00:15:50,846 [gentle, quiet music] 262 00:15:50,846 --> 00:15:53,573 When people see the house and say, "Hey, 263 00:15:53,573 --> 00:15:55,230 "the house is amazing." 264 00:15:55,230 --> 00:15:58,060 But when you come with the people here and say, 265 00:15:58,060 --> 00:16:01,305 "Look what is coming from over there to down." 266 00:16:01,305 --> 00:16:03,893 And they just say, "What?" 267 00:16:04,964 --> 00:16:06,896 This is my favorite spot 268 00:16:06,896 --> 00:16:10,797 because everything is happened in here. 269 00:16:10,797 --> 00:16:14,525 I stay all the time, in the summer, in here. 270 00:16:15,871 --> 00:16:18,253 I put my feet in the water. 271 00:16:19,668 --> 00:16:23,913 I listen to music and read also. 272 00:16:25,225 --> 00:16:29,367 And we talk about everything in this place. 273 00:16:29,367 --> 00:16:32,543 [gentle, quiet music] 274 00:16:34,234 --> 00:16:36,961 [Narrator] They really are living with the forest 275 00:16:36,961 --> 00:16:39,101 and in the forest. 276 00:16:39,101 --> 00:16:41,552 [water trickling] 277 00:16:41,552 --> 00:16:45,176 Hiding in plain site, in the main, open-plan living space, 278 00:16:45,176 --> 00:16:47,075 there's another surprise. 279 00:16:48,421 --> 00:16:51,217 A special nook in the house has been created 280 00:16:51,217 --> 00:16:53,840 to allow the forest flora to grow up 281 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:56,463 through the very heart of the structure. 282 00:16:56,463 --> 00:16:58,948 The trees is very near. 283 00:16:58,948 --> 00:17:01,434 Could be a very big living room, 284 00:17:01,434 --> 00:17:02,952 - but- - But we did not want-- 285 00:17:02,952 --> 00:17:06,749 We didn't want to take the chestnut tree. 286 00:17:06,749 --> 00:17:10,270 So we cut the house to keep your tree. 287 00:17:13,308 --> 00:17:15,137 [Narrator] Preserving all of the trees 288 00:17:15,137 --> 00:17:16,587 and vegetation on the plot 289 00:17:16,587 --> 00:17:18,727 was an important part of the brief, 290 00:17:18,727 --> 00:17:21,419 given to architect, Ernesto Pereira. 291 00:17:21,419 --> 00:17:23,801 We don't cut off any trees. 292 00:17:23,801 --> 00:17:27,598 We have to adapt completely the house to the land. 293 00:17:27,598 --> 00:17:29,289 The big word is respect. 294 00:17:29,289 --> 00:17:33,707 We want to respect the land, respect the nature 295 00:17:33,707 --> 00:17:35,399 and live with nature. 296 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:38,091 When we built the balcony, 297 00:17:38,091 --> 00:17:41,819 we left space to tree continue growing 298 00:17:41,819 --> 00:17:44,063 and continue moving with the wind and everything 299 00:17:44,063 --> 00:17:46,099 and the balance of the balcony. 300 00:17:46,099 --> 00:17:48,032 This is a light structure 301 00:17:48,032 --> 00:17:50,552 and if you need to increase the holes, 302 00:17:50,552 --> 00:17:54,038 is a five minute job for me, not a problem at all. 303 00:17:56,316 --> 00:17:57,628 [Narrator] Ernesto fell in love 304 00:17:57,628 --> 00:17:59,561 with the secrecy of this area 305 00:17:59,561 --> 00:18:03,979 as soon as he started work on the job and visited the plot. 306 00:18:03,979 --> 00:18:05,946 I don't know no one who arrive here 307 00:18:05,946 --> 00:18:08,811 and don't want something like that. 308 00:18:08,811 --> 00:18:10,261 It's amazing. 309 00:18:10,261 --> 00:18:12,953 It's the power of the land, the power of the nature. 310 00:18:14,300 --> 00:18:16,578 [Narrator] Designing the house around the existing trees 311 00:18:16,578 --> 00:18:19,305 was the easy part for Ernesto, 312 00:18:19,305 --> 00:18:23,826 but building the structure was a huge engineering feat. 313 00:18:23,826 --> 00:18:27,071 The complicated part is no machine arrives here. 314 00:18:27,071 --> 00:18:28,555 If we cut the trees off, okay, 315 00:18:28,555 --> 00:18:32,525 we can put here the big machines to bring the big windows, 316 00:18:32,525 --> 00:18:35,079 the big beams of wood and everything. 317 00:18:35,079 --> 00:18:37,392 No, we have to construct here. 318 00:18:37,392 --> 00:18:40,567 Everything was a challenge, everything was an adventure. 319 00:18:40,567 --> 00:18:45,572 Doing those was a nightmare glass, we did 600 kilos by hand. 320 00:18:46,159 --> 00:18:47,402 It's not easy. 321 00:18:47,402 --> 00:18:48,541 [Narrator] As much of the house as possible 322 00:18:48,541 --> 00:18:50,577 was assembled off-site. 323 00:18:50,577 --> 00:18:52,924 The rest had to be carried in by hand. 324 00:18:54,823 --> 00:18:56,825 There's another reason why this house 325 00:18:56,825 --> 00:19:00,380 fuses so effortlessly with the woodland outside. 326 00:19:01,243 --> 00:19:02,900 Ernesto topped the house off 327 00:19:02,900 --> 00:19:06,075 with soil from the forest instead of roof tiles, 328 00:19:06,075 --> 00:19:08,699 to help blend the house into its surroundings. 329 00:19:09,872 --> 00:19:12,875 The roof is another major part of the house 330 00:19:12,875 --> 00:19:17,052 because, like you see, the roof become nature. 331 00:19:17,052 --> 00:19:18,571 We don't have big plants 332 00:19:18,571 --> 00:19:21,470 because we don't have a lot of earth layer, 333 00:19:21,470 --> 00:19:25,164 but the objective is to filtrate the water 334 00:19:25,164 --> 00:19:28,305 and after that, let the water go to the lagoon. 335 00:19:28,305 --> 00:19:30,721 Is a completely free maintenance. 336 00:19:30,721 --> 00:19:34,103 You don't know where the nature start, when the roof ends. 337 00:19:34,103 --> 00:19:35,484 This is what we want, 338 00:19:35,484 --> 00:19:37,590 the nature take completely part of the house. 339 00:19:39,281 --> 00:19:41,870 I believe when the nature take part of the house, 340 00:19:41,870 --> 00:19:43,734 that would be completely amazing, 341 00:19:43,734 --> 00:19:45,701 more and more amazing than now. 342 00:19:47,531 --> 00:19:49,291 [Narrator] To preserve it's natural setting, 343 00:19:49,291 --> 00:19:51,880 the house is not attached to the rock face. 344 00:19:53,295 --> 00:19:56,333 The structure only touches the ground in 16 places, 345 00:19:56,333 --> 00:19:59,094 on 50 centimeter square, concrete blocks. 346 00:20:00,268 --> 00:20:02,062 The support posts for the terrace 347 00:20:02,062 --> 00:20:04,893 also sit on concrete blocks. 348 00:20:04,893 --> 00:20:07,930 Bolts tie the structure to the underside of the building. 349 00:20:09,104 --> 00:20:10,899 There's support posts that are angled 350 00:20:10,899 --> 00:20:12,935 to look like they're a part of the forest 351 00:20:12,935 --> 00:20:15,214 and to give the illusion that the terrace 352 00:20:15,214 --> 00:20:17,319 is suspended in the treetops. 353 00:20:21,081 --> 00:20:24,775 At the far end of the house is Rui and Alexandra's bedroom. 354 00:20:26,155 --> 00:20:29,538 The room has two glass walls to take in the views, 355 00:20:29,538 --> 00:20:31,609 but it has an ingenious feature 356 00:20:31,609 --> 00:20:34,957 to keep it secret from the rest of the house. 357 00:20:34,957 --> 00:20:36,925 - If I want privacy-- - We have-- 358 00:20:36,925 --> 00:20:39,238 - A secret door. - Door. 359 00:20:39,238 --> 00:20:42,379 And I can close 360 00:20:46,797 --> 00:20:48,764 my bedroom like this. 361 00:20:50,179 --> 00:20:52,665 Nobody knows. [laughs] 362 00:20:54,149 --> 00:20:56,013 [Narrator] And there's another surprising feature 363 00:20:56,013 --> 00:20:58,429 in Rui and Alexandra's hideaway. 364 00:21:02,364 --> 00:21:04,746 And it sits just off their bedroom 365 00:21:04,746 --> 00:21:07,611 and can only be accessed through the en suite shower. 366 00:21:07,611 --> 00:21:11,822 [Rui] This is our jacuzzi that we come from the shower, 367 00:21:11,822 --> 00:21:14,134 which is a completely outdoor jacuzzi. 368 00:21:15,343 --> 00:21:18,069 [Narrator] Open to the skies and to the forest, 369 00:21:18,069 --> 00:21:21,003 this is the ultimate in secret luxury. 370 00:21:21,003 --> 00:21:22,246 [Rui] Nobody thinks 371 00:21:22,246 --> 00:21:24,973 that they are going to see something like that 372 00:21:24,973 --> 00:21:26,802 and people almost don't believe, 373 00:21:26,802 --> 00:21:29,736 but when we open this and they see, 374 00:21:29,736 --> 00:21:32,394 now, you don't have that over there. 375 00:21:36,433 --> 00:21:37,813 [Narrator] There's one more water feature 376 00:21:37,813 --> 00:21:40,851 concealed in the grounds of the house, 377 00:21:40,851 --> 00:21:42,473 a secluded swimming pool. 378 00:21:43,474 --> 00:21:47,064 [gentle, inspirational music] 379 00:21:47,064 --> 00:21:49,963 [Rui] If we're going to the beach or something like this, 380 00:21:49,963 --> 00:21:52,966 we still go there, but not so often. 381 00:21:52,966 --> 00:21:55,141 Before, when it is warm, 382 00:21:55,141 --> 00:21:57,488 you didn't need to go there every day. 383 00:21:57,488 --> 00:21:59,628 Now we don't go so often, of course, 384 00:21:59,628 --> 00:22:01,112 we have the swimming pool here. 385 00:22:03,425 --> 00:22:05,703 We can keep the girls close to us 386 00:22:05,703 --> 00:22:08,948 - and them-- - Can stay in family. 387 00:22:08,948 --> 00:22:11,709 Is very important for us, stay in family. 388 00:22:12,848 --> 00:22:16,749 And the girls like to be with us in here 389 00:22:16,749 --> 00:22:20,960 and is more comfortable to the girls. 390 00:22:20,960 --> 00:22:25,965 [quiet, piano music] [birds chirping] 391 00:22:26,690 --> 00:22:28,795 The place is amazing. 392 00:22:28,795 --> 00:22:33,006 We can listen to the birds when we wake up. 393 00:22:34,111 --> 00:22:38,736 We can see the magic of the trees, 394 00:22:38,736 --> 00:22:42,568 the flowers, this is a dream come true. 395 00:22:44,570 --> 00:22:47,158 [Narrator] Rui and Alexandra live in a small, 396 00:22:47,158 --> 00:22:50,576 but beautifully formed gem of a home, 397 00:22:50,576 --> 00:22:54,476 as close to nature as it's possible to be. 398 00:22:54,476 --> 00:22:59,447 [gentle, inspirational music] [birds chirping] 399 00:23:03,623 --> 00:23:06,902 [upbeat, cheery music] 400 00:23:11,769 --> 00:23:13,840 720 kilometers southeast, 401 00:23:17,188 --> 00:23:22,193 lies the tiny Spanish village of Fontanars dels Alforins. 402 00:23:22,918 --> 00:23:25,576 [upbeat, cheery music] 403 00:23:29,546 --> 00:23:33,619 The land here is a mosaic of vineyards and olive groves. 404 00:23:38,037 --> 00:23:41,109 It's the perfect place to hide away, 405 00:23:41,109 --> 00:23:44,837 but constructing a home in protected landscape like this 406 00:23:44,837 --> 00:23:46,735 is not easy. 407 00:23:46,735 --> 00:23:50,152 [gentle, dramatic music] 408 00:23:59,403 --> 00:24:01,543 Tucked away, off the beaten track, 409 00:24:04,581 --> 00:24:07,791 hidden by its natural surroundings, 410 00:24:07,791 --> 00:24:11,553 [gentle, dramatic music] 411 00:24:11,553 --> 00:24:14,556 sits a modern, countryside retreat. 412 00:24:16,351 --> 00:24:19,768 [upbeat, dramatic music] 413 00:24:23,841 --> 00:24:26,223 This is the cottage in the vineyard. 414 00:24:27,224 --> 00:24:31,470 [upbeat, dramatic music] 415 00:24:31,470 --> 00:24:34,231 [birds chirping] 416 00:24:36,544 --> 00:24:40,237 [cheerful, strumming music] 417 00:24:40,237 --> 00:24:43,274 The cottage is owned by architect, Ramon Esteve, 418 00:24:46,346 --> 00:24:49,626 built as a holiday home, somewhere he could escape to. 419 00:24:53,492 --> 00:24:56,046 For him, it's the perfect spot. 420 00:24:58,876 --> 00:25:03,571 I always like to have a house in this area. 421 00:25:04,986 --> 00:25:07,747 I have my house in the city center. 422 00:25:07,747 --> 00:25:09,542 It's a little bit noisy. 423 00:25:09,542 --> 00:25:11,924 I need to disconnect sometimes 424 00:25:11,924 --> 00:25:15,410 and the best thing to disconnect is nature, for me. 425 00:25:20,242 --> 00:25:23,487 [Narrator] The cottage covers 450 square meters 426 00:25:23,487 --> 00:25:24,971 and sits on one level. 427 00:25:26,421 --> 00:25:28,147 A central, concrete hallway 428 00:25:28,147 --> 00:25:31,909 connects the house to a series of protruding, wooden cubes. 429 00:25:34,118 --> 00:25:38,019 At one end is a spacious master suite with dressing area. 430 00:25:40,435 --> 00:25:43,852 Next to this are two guest bedrooms with bathrooms. 431 00:25:45,613 --> 00:25:47,546 In the center, there's a living room 432 00:25:49,686 --> 00:25:51,204 and a large kitchen. 433 00:25:53,517 --> 00:25:57,107 This leads to a large, covered living, dining space. 434 00:25:58,246 --> 00:25:59,834 Garage 435 00:25:59,834 --> 00:26:01,145 and storage area. 436 00:26:02,353 --> 00:26:06,495 All of this sits in 130,000 square meters 437 00:26:06,495 --> 00:26:07,980 of Spanish countryside. 438 00:26:10,776 --> 00:26:13,261 [gentle, cheery music] 439 00:26:13,261 --> 00:26:16,920 With nothing but the wide, open landscape for company, 440 00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:20,302 Ramon found his perfect place to unwind. 441 00:26:22,270 --> 00:26:25,411 This area has tough building restrictions 442 00:26:25,411 --> 00:26:28,310 so he wanted to come up with a discreet design, 443 00:26:28,310 --> 00:26:30,278 in keeping with the local architecture. 444 00:26:32,660 --> 00:26:34,282 [Ramon] When you approach, 445 00:26:34,282 --> 00:26:37,837 the house is hidden behind the trees. 446 00:26:40,081 --> 00:26:41,427 It wants to be modest. 447 00:26:43,153 --> 00:26:45,742 You don't reveal the house. 448 00:26:45,742 --> 00:26:47,916 [Narrator] As you continue your approach, 449 00:26:47,916 --> 00:26:49,918 the intrigue builds. 450 00:26:49,918 --> 00:26:52,093 Looking more like a glass window, 451 00:26:52,093 --> 00:26:56,062 the front door is a tiny opening on the side of the house. 452 00:26:56,925 --> 00:27:00,170 [upbeat, cheery music] 453 00:27:04,174 --> 00:27:07,246 [Ramon] You walk through the small, box door, 454 00:27:08,661 --> 00:27:12,907 and when you arrive, it's like an explosion of space. 455 00:27:14,460 --> 00:27:17,014 [Narrator] The central hallway connects wooden cubes, 456 00:27:17,014 --> 00:27:19,016 which house the living spaces. 457 00:27:21,467 --> 00:27:25,782 All walls and floors, and even the furniture, 458 00:27:25,782 --> 00:27:27,231 are made from pine. 459 00:27:28,647 --> 00:27:32,202 The unique wooden cabin design gives a sense of intimacy 460 00:27:32,202 --> 00:27:34,411 and it feels as though the natural world 461 00:27:34,411 --> 00:27:38,518 lives within the very structure of the house. 462 00:27:38,518 --> 00:27:41,487 [Ramon] You are protected with the box 463 00:27:41,487 --> 00:27:45,180 and at the same time, you have, open, big screen, 464 00:27:45,180 --> 00:27:46,803 seeing the outside. 465 00:27:49,771 --> 00:27:52,222 [Narrator] The large windows perfectly bridge the gap 466 00:27:52,222 --> 00:27:56,882 between the modern interior and the landscape beyond. 467 00:27:56,882 --> 00:28:00,126 [cheery, upbeat music] 468 00:28:02,301 --> 00:28:06,477 The kitchen has stunning, panoramic views of the vineyards. 469 00:28:07,340 --> 00:28:10,619 [cheery, upbeat music] 470 00:28:12,276 --> 00:28:15,417 [Ramon] This is a house to share with friends 471 00:28:15,417 --> 00:28:19,111 and the best place to share, we think, is the kitchen. 472 00:28:20,560 --> 00:28:22,701 It's a dining room at the same time as a kitchen. 473 00:28:25,082 --> 00:28:27,602 [Narrator] Ramon wanted a space he could entertain, 474 00:28:27,602 --> 00:28:30,674 socialize and cook in. 475 00:28:30,674 --> 00:28:32,193 He had to come up with a design 476 00:28:32,193 --> 00:28:35,058 that could cleverly convert and hide away 477 00:28:35,058 --> 00:28:37,163 any sense of it being a kitchen. 478 00:28:39,234 --> 00:28:44,239 To integrate, I've hidden all the cupboards, 479 00:28:45,378 --> 00:28:49,210 like oven with the advantage you can open 480 00:28:49,210 --> 00:28:52,800 and you became in a normal kitchen 481 00:28:52,800 --> 00:28:55,181 and when you finish, you close 482 00:28:56,873 --> 00:28:58,633 and it's part of the living area. 483 00:29:01,740 --> 00:29:05,709 [upbeat, cheery music] 484 00:29:05,709 --> 00:29:07,055 [Narrator] The discreet design 485 00:29:07,055 --> 00:29:09,748 flows right through this house 486 00:29:09,748 --> 00:29:13,372 and the focal point of every space is the view. 487 00:29:15,581 --> 00:29:18,998 And the master bedroom takes this concept even further. 488 00:29:20,689 --> 00:29:23,796 [Ramon] It's very nice to wake up in the morning 489 00:29:23,796 --> 00:29:27,869 with that window focused to the landscape. 490 00:29:27,869 --> 00:29:32,425 You feel like you are sleeping in the middle of the nature. 491 00:29:32,425 --> 00:29:35,877 The only thing that you can fear is some bears, 492 00:29:35,877 --> 00:29:36,740 nothing more. 493 00:29:38,500 --> 00:29:40,848 [Narrator] And there's something even more amazing 494 00:29:40,848 --> 00:29:41,745 about this space, 495 00:29:43,782 --> 00:29:46,957 the mirrored bathroom creates an incredible illusion 496 00:29:48,372 --> 00:29:52,031 that immerses you in nature in the most magical way. 497 00:29:53,412 --> 00:29:56,070 [cheery, upbeat music] 498 00:29:56,070 --> 00:29:58,935 The sink area, for me is very amazing. 499 00:29:58,935 --> 00:30:01,213 When you are washing your teeth, 500 00:30:01,213 --> 00:30:04,285 you are feeling you are inside the forest. 501 00:30:05,769 --> 00:30:10,498 This small space is one of my favorites in my house. 502 00:30:11,706 --> 00:30:14,053 It's a surprise, when you are here, 503 00:30:14,053 --> 00:30:16,815 your least effect is a simple effect, 504 00:30:16,815 --> 00:30:18,851 but this, it works very well. 505 00:30:22,648 --> 00:30:25,824 [birds chirping] 506 00:30:25,824 --> 00:30:28,067 [Narrator] The house is made out of wood, 507 00:30:28,067 --> 00:30:31,139 galvanized steel and white concrete 508 00:30:31,139 --> 00:30:33,832 that has been textured to resemble the pine 509 00:30:33,832 --> 00:30:35,143 used throughout the home. 510 00:30:37,697 --> 00:30:39,492 Ramon wanted the outside 511 00:30:39,492 --> 00:30:42,012 to be the very essence of the house, 512 00:30:43,082 --> 00:30:44,912 but he went one step further 513 00:30:44,912 --> 00:30:48,363 and created a space that completely opens out 514 00:30:48,363 --> 00:30:49,675 to the natural world. 515 00:30:50,814 --> 00:30:54,922 [gentle, quiet music] [birds chirping] 516 00:30:54,922 --> 00:30:57,579 [Ramon] I like to listen to nature 517 00:30:57,579 --> 00:30:58,857 and to listen to the birds 518 00:31:00,030 --> 00:31:03,344 and that is strong contact with nature. 519 00:31:03,344 --> 00:31:07,175 [gentle, inspirational music] 520 00:31:12,663 --> 00:31:14,355 [Narrator] At the touch of a button, 521 00:31:14,355 --> 00:31:18,290 Ramon can effortlessly connect the house with the outside. 522 00:31:19,394 --> 00:31:22,156 [gentle, inspirational music] 523 00:31:22,156 --> 00:31:25,228 And the result is spectacular. 524 00:31:25,228 --> 00:31:29,611 [gentle, inspirational music] 525 00:31:29,611 --> 00:31:32,028 [Ramon] The aim of this space 526 00:31:32,028 --> 00:31:37,033 is to reproduce the living area of the house, outdoors. 527 00:31:41,554 --> 00:31:43,591 I have the living area, 528 00:31:43,591 --> 00:31:46,352 the dining area and also the kitchen. 529 00:31:48,803 --> 00:31:50,322 [Narrator] To open up this space, 530 00:31:50,322 --> 00:31:54,015 Ramon designed two nine meter motorized doors, 531 00:31:54,015 --> 00:31:56,121 one on each side of the cottage 532 00:31:56,121 --> 00:31:58,847 that draw back to reveal the landscape. 533 00:32:04,992 --> 00:32:09,099 Each door is constructed from galvanized steel and wood. 534 00:32:09,099 --> 00:32:11,205 A U-shaped track in the upper lintel 535 00:32:11,205 --> 00:32:15,105 holds the door steady as motors draw it along rollers. 536 00:32:16,244 --> 00:32:18,660 On the ground, the door moves along a track, 537 00:32:18,660 --> 00:32:20,455 set flush with the floor. 538 00:32:21,387 --> 00:32:23,665 Remote controls open the door, 539 00:32:23,665 --> 00:32:27,221 which then hides completely into the adjacent wall. 540 00:32:32,847 --> 00:32:37,300 What an incredible place to relax and enjoy nature. 541 00:32:37,300 --> 00:32:39,060 And there's one final secret 542 00:32:39,060 --> 00:32:42,477 that Ramon couldn't resist having in this space. 543 00:32:44,928 --> 00:32:46,274 [Ramon] Here is Valencia, 544 00:32:46,274 --> 00:32:48,069 but this is the place of the paella 545 00:32:48,069 --> 00:32:52,073 and to make a paella outside is the best place to eat, 546 00:32:52,073 --> 00:32:53,074 better than inside. 547 00:32:55,594 --> 00:32:57,389 [Narrator] Hidden behind two doors, 548 00:32:57,389 --> 00:33:00,702 Ramon created the perfect place to cook his paella 549 00:33:00,702 --> 00:33:02,359 and entertain friends. 550 00:33:03,843 --> 00:33:06,087 A barbecue that can be hidden away 551 00:33:06,087 --> 00:33:08,745 or opened into the central space. 552 00:33:12,197 --> 00:33:14,440 But just occasionally, there comes a time 553 00:33:14,440 --> 00:33:16,718 when Ramon wants to hide himself 554 00:33:16,718 --> 00:33:19,411 and the house from the outside world. 555 00:33:20,929 --> 00:33:24,347 Every room has a door 556 00:33:24,347 --> 00:33:27,833 to hide in the two sides of the window. 557 00:33:27,833 --> 00:33:32,217 In some way, when you open the house, 558 00:33:32,217 --> 00:33:33,977 you engage with the house. 559 00:33:33,977 --> 00:33:37,153 It's like a ceremony of welcome 560 00:33:38,671 --> 00:33:43,193 and when you close, is that you say, "Goodbye." 561 00:33:44,091 --> 00:33:46,783 [gentle, quiet music] 562 00:33:46,783 --> 00:33:50,752 [Narrator] Ramon has created a true place of beauty 563 00:33:50,752 --> 00:33:53,065 and the perfect place to escape. 564 00:33:54,963 --> 00:33:57,449 The cottage oozes calmness 565 00:33:57,449 --> 00:33:59,623 and allows its natural surroundings 566 00:33:59,623 --> 00:34:02,040 to filter right through the property. 567 00:34:04,007 --> 00:34:08,701 With this house, I am very proud and I am very glad 568 00:34:08,701 --> 00:34:11,670 I found more than I looking for. 569 00:34:12,705 --> 00:34:15,432 When I see the landscape, I feel calm, 570 00:34:15,432 --> 00:34:18,918 I feel relaxed, I feel happy. 571 00:34:18,918 --> 00:34:21,783 [gentle, quiet music] 572 00:34:21,783 --> 00:34:26,788 I came here when I were a child, and now, when I came here, 573 00:34:27,927 --> 00:34:29,791 I feel connected with the landscape. 574 00:34:29,791 --> 00:34:31,655 I connected with my memories. 575 00:34:32,760 --> 00:34:37,627 [gentle, quiet music] [birds chirping] 576 00:34:49,363 --> 00:34:53,712 [Narrator] 1,200 kilometers northeast is Lake Maggiore. 577 00:34:54,920 --> 00:34:56,370 Just south of the Alps, 578 00:34:56,370 --> 00:34:59,166 it stretches from the Italian region of Lombardi 579 00:34:59,166 --> 00:35:00,650 up into Switzerland. 580 00:35:02,307 --> 00:35:07,174 It's a wild, mountain landscape with breathtaking views. 581 00:35:07,174 --> 00:35:11,039 [gentle, inspirational music] 582 00:35:18,461 --> 00:35:22,258 Along these shores, on a small plot of land, 583 00:35:22,258 --> 00:35:26,296 sits an unusual home with hidden depths. 584 00:35:26,296 --> 00:35:29,472 [gentle, quiet music] 585 00:35:38,136 --> 00:35:39,723 On the northern edge of the lake 586 00:35:39,723 --> 00:35:41,725 lies the village of Caviano. 587 00:35:45,177 --> 00:35:47,559 This is a tiny community of old, 588 00:35:47,559 --> 00:35:50,734 stone houses and quaint streets. 589 00:35:52,909 --> 00:35:54,462 On the edge of town, 590 00:35:54,462 --> 00:35:56,568 with only a fraction of the structure, 591 00:35:56,568 --> 00:35:58,777 visible from the road, 592 00:35:58,777 --> 00:36:02,539 [gentle, inspirational music] 593 00:36:05,232 --> 00:36:07,889 sits this small, cube-like building. 594 00:36:11,514 --> 00:36:16,277 Behind this facade, lies a house, seen by very few. 595 00:36:18,486 --> 00:36:22,145 This small and compact house is called Casa Dem, 596 00:36:22,145 --> 00:36:25,252 which means the house. 597 00:36:26,563 --> 00:36:31,568 [birds chirping] [cheerful, strumming music] 598 00:36:34,399 --> 00:36:38,126 The owner and designer is architect Jerome de Meuron 599 00:36:38,126 --> 00:36:40,681 who lives here with his wife, Paula, 600 00:36:40,681 --> 00:36:43,097 son Damien, and dog, Nuna. 601 00:36:45,513 --> 00:36:48,792 I just bought 130 square meters 602 00:36:48,792 --> 00:36:50,277 where the house, it's on its own, 603 00:36:50,277 --> 00:36:53,832 basically it's the house and the parking lot and that's it. 604 00:36:55,661 --> 00:36:57,491 [Narrator] To create a family home here, 605 00:36:57,491 --> 00:37:00,459 on this very small footprint of land, 606 00:37:00,459 --> 00:37:02,289 the house had to be tall. 607 00:37:04,912 --> 00:37:07,190 [Jerome] It was a big challenge to put everything 608 00:37:07,190 --> 00:37:11,056 which was required for us to live in this small house 609 00:37:11,056 --> 00:37:12,989 because the plot was very small. 610 00:37:12,989 --> 00:37:15,785 The house is about 80 square meters. 611 00:37:17,511 --> 00:37:19,409 And there we had to put everything 612 00:37:19,409 --> 00:37:22,378 that was required for us inside. 613 00:37:29,419 --> 00:37:30,938 [Narrator] This tall, thin house 614 00:37:30,938 --> 00:37:33,389 is being built on a tiny plot of land, 615 00:37:33,389 --> 00:37:36,357 on the side of a hill, across three floors. 616 00:37:38,221 --> 00:37:40,603 On the top floor is the living space, 617 00:37:42,225 --> 00:37:43,157 with kitchen, 618 00:37:44,710 --> 00:37:46,540 and dining area. 619 00:37:46,540 --> 00:37:49,232 On the first floor are two bedrooms, 620 00:37:49,232 --> 00:37:53,271 each with an external terrace, and a wet room. 621 00:37:54,996 --> 00:37:58,414 At the bottom level, there is a cellar and workshop. 622 00:37:59,518 --> 00:38:04,316 [gentle, cheery music] [birds chirping] 623 00:38:08,286 --> 00:38:11,289 Jerome chose to build his contemporary, new house 624 00:38:11,289 --> 00:38:13,532 in a way that helps it blend in 625 00:38:13,532 --> 00:38:16,155 with the traditional homes in this village. 626 00:38:18,986 --> 00:38:21,575 [Jerome] The house is built in concrete, basically 627 00:38:22,990 --> 00:38:26,200 and the house itself, 628 00:38:26,200 --> 00:38:30,998 we tried to get the same proportion as the old houses are. 629 00:38:30,998 --> 00:38:32,586 So at the front, they are low 630 00:38:34,795 --> 00:38:36,486 and at the back, they are high. 631 00:38:36,486 --> 00:38:39,075 So that's also what we tried to redo. 632 00:38:43,528 --> 00:38:46,220 [Narrator] From street level, the three story house 633 00:38:46,220 --> 00:38:49,327 looks like a simple one story building. 634 00:38:49,327 --> 00:38:54,332 [gentle, quiet music] [birds chirping] 635 00:38:55,505 --> 00:38:57,231 If you come here, you can't even imagine 636 00:38:57,231 --> 00:38:58,543 that this could be a house. 637 00:38:59,406 --> 00:39:02,374 The door is a big opening 638 00:39:02,374 --> 00:39:05,032 where we can regulate if we want privacy 639 00:39:05,032 --> 00:39:07,068 or if we want to have the connection 640 00:39:07,068 --> 00:39:08,622 to the people who walk through. 641 00:39:09,761 --> 00:39:10,969 [Narrator] On the other side of the door, 642 00:39:10,969 --> 00:39:13,143 there's a concealed courtyard 643 00:39:16,008 --> 00:39:17,734 with a small seating area. 644 00:39:20,737 --> 00:39:25,742 An internal door brings you into a compact, open-plan space. 645 00:39:26,847 --> 00:39:28,331 Simple, gray, concrete walls and floors 646 00:39:28,331 --> 00:39:31,886 make the home feel bigger than it actually is. 647 00:39:31,886 --> 00:39:34,302 There's a functional kitchen, 648 00:39:34,302 --> 00:39:36,753 which leads to a small dining area, 649 00:39:38,168 --> 00:39:41,655 and an unexpectedly large living area. 650 00:39:42,932 --> 00:39:44,623 The house is divided in three levels. 651 00:39:44,623 --> 00:39:47,212 Here is the upper level, where we live. 652 00:39:48,489 --> 00:39:49,973 The house is designed as, 653 00:39:49,973 --> 00:39:51,389 that everything you need for the kitchen, 654 00:39:51,389 --> 00:39:52,597 for example, is hidden. 655 00:39:55,841 --> 00:40:00,087 Also, the office, it has the computer, 656 00:40:00,087 --> 00:40:03,262 if it's necessary, we can work here. 657 00:40:05,575 --> 00:40:07,750 [Narrator] In this minimalist home, 658 00:40:07,750 --> 00:40:10,787 everything is stored away in discreet cupboards. 659 00:40:12,720 --> 00:40:15,585 Even the curtains have a secret hideaway. 660 00:40:17,173 --> 00:40:19,796 The house is designed to have the privacy. 661 00:40:19,796 --> 00:40:23,455 So it offers enough, but in some occasions, 662 00:40:23,455 --> 00:40:25,423 when the sun is coming from this side, 663 00:40:25,423 --> 00:40:27,183 so we need some protection, 664 00:40:27,183 --> 00:40:29,357 then we have these curtains hidden here. 665 00:40:30,842 --> 00:40:34,846 [gentle, quiet music] 666 00:40:34,846 --> 00:40:37,020 [Narrator] To make the most of the space, 667 00:40:37,020 --> 00:40:41,473 all of the furniture is bespoke, made by Jerome himself, 668 00:40:41,473 --> 00:40:43,751 even the unusual coffee table. 669 00:40:45,235 --> 00:40:46,478 [Jerome] The furniture, also, 670 00:40:46,478 --> 00:40:48,100 is integrated in the architecture. 671 00:40:48,100 --> 00:40:52,208 This is, on one hand, it's because there is a few space 672 00:40:52,208 --> 00:40:54,797 and it was also important to have it in wood. 673 00:40:54,797 --> 00:40:57,593 So it is kind of contrast to the gray 674 00:40:57,593 --> 00:41:00,285 and base materials of the house. 675 00:41:01,942 --> 00:41:05,463 [Narrator] Down an internal staircase, on the floor below, 676 00:41:06,636 --> 00:41:09,363 there's a separate toilet and wet room. 677 00:41:12,159 --> 00:41:15,714 There are two bedrooms, son Damian's bedroom, 678 00:41:17,613 --> 00:41:19,028 and the master bedroom. 679 00:41:21,064 --> 00:41:23,342 In keeping with the minimalist design, 680 00:41:23,342 --> 00:41:25,759 functional necessities, such as doors 681 00:41:25,759 --> 00:41:27,968 are paired back and simple. 682 00:41:29,176 --> 00:41:31,316 [Jerome] So the doors are made just in wood. 683 00:41:31,316 --> 00:41:33,629 So to touch, it's very good 684 00:41:33,629 --> 00:41:36,839 and there is, you can open it just in this way. 685 00:41:38,323 --> 00:41:41,809 It was also important to have not handles to touch the wood 686 00:41:41,809 --> 00:41:43,535 and not another material again. 687 00:41:44,605 --> 00:41:47,401 [gentle, quiet music] 688 00:41:47,401 --> 00:41:50,542 [Narrator] Off each bedroom, there's an enclosed terrace. 689 00:41:53,269 --> 00:41:55,685 With so few external windows, 690 00:41:55,685 --> 00:41:57,515 Jerome needed to come up with a way 691 00:41:57,515 --> 00:41:59,551 to bring light into the house 692 00:41:59,551 --> 00:42:02,105 and channel it down to the floors below. 693 00:42:04,314 --> 00:42:07,594 His ingenious solution, light wells. 694 00:42:10,079 --> 00:42:15,084 These holes, is a kind of repeating idea of the house. 695 00:42:16,499 --> 00:42:18,881 They're in the facade, they are in theses areas, 696 00:42:18,881 --> 00:42:21,918 even artificial light is integrated 697 00:42:21,918 --> 00:42:23,230 in the architecture as a whole, 698 00:42:23,230 --> 00:42:24,611 where the light is inside. 699 00:42:24,611 --> 00:42:27,545 So it's taking part of the architecture. 700 00:42:29,547 --> 00:42:31,445 [Narrator] To achieve this, a skylight 701 00:42:31,445 --> 00:42:33,930 channels sunlight from the roof 702 00:42:33,930 --> 00:42:36,933 down through the stairwell, to the rooms below. 703 00:42:39,695 --> 00:42:42,076 Holes have been cut in the concrete walls 704 00:42:42,076 --> 00:42:43,975 to flood the building with light. 705 00:42:46,080 --> 00:42:50,671 The largest opening is on the lakeside courtyard 706 00:42:50,671 --> 00:42:54,088 to make the most of those spectacular views. 707 00:42:57,575 --> 00:43:00,785 [Jerome] Even if we are here on the height of the trees, 708 00:43:00,785 --> 00:43:03,373 so it as so nice to have the view, 709 00:43:03,373 --> 00:43:04,858 even if they are small views, 710 00:43:04,858 --> 00:43:06,514 but to have it through the trees. 711 00:43:07,619 --> 00:43:11,865 [birds chirping] [gentle music] 712 00:43:11,865 --> 00:43:15,765 [Narrator] Jerome had one more design trick up his sleeve 713 00:43:15,765 --> 00:43:19,217 to bring light into the concealed home. 714 00:43:19,217 --> 00:43:21,460 So the main idea of this courtyard 715 00:43:21,460 --> 00:43:23,773 was to have the light inside. 716 00:43:23,773 --> 00:43:26,120 So in summertime, when the sun is coming, 717 00:43:26,120 --> 00:43:27,674 it's reflecting on this side. 718 00:43:27,674 --> 00:43:30,297 So the wall is important for that. 719 00:43:33,093 --> 00:43:34,612 [Narrator] Through creative design, 720 00:43:34,612 --> 00:43:37,131 Jerome has achieved his dream 721 00:43:37,131 --> 00:43:42,136 of building a compact, family home in an area he loves. 722 00:43:42,861 --> 00:43:44,518 [gentle, quiet music] 723 00:43:44,518 --> 00:43:47,555 For me, this house is very like a cave, 724 00:43:47,555 --> 00:43:51,594 where I can go back and relax and where I feel safe. 725 00:43:55,667 --> 00:43:59,015 And it's also very good for me to work where I live. 726 00:44:01,017 --> 00:44:04,020 So if my son, for example, goes to school or comes back, 727 00:44:04,020 --> 00:44:06,091 I'm gonna get home to see him. 728 00:44:06,091 --> 00:44:07,645 Even if it's five minutes, 729 00:44:07,645 --> 00:44:09,543 or I have a straight contact to the family, 730 00:44:09,543 --> 00:44:10,820 that's what I really like. 731 00:44:11,959 --> 00:44:16,964 [gentle, cheery music] [birds chirping] 732 00:44:25,248 --> 00:44:29,011 [dramatic, orchestral music] 56887

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