Vex is an Experimental Home that Combines Architecture and Sound

This project, dubbed Vex, seeks to combine sound and architecture. The concrete house was cast in-situ, and possibly has the most unique form seen out of all the houses I’ve posted on this site.

The structure is composed of a series of undulating ellipses, stacked on top of one another – a form inspired by Erik Satie’s “Vexations”, which involved looping piano.

The work was a collaborative effort between architects Chance de Silva, and musician Robin Rimbaud (aka “Scanner”). The house is based in Greater London, and contains a combined total living area of 1237.85-square-feet (115-square-meters) over its four floors.

To create Vex, a serious amount of craftsmanship went into producing the timber forms that would go on to shape the concrete. The fruits of their labor are evident. With the concrete cast and stacked, the exterior was finished in a mix of timber and corrugated steel.

On the inside, the bare concrete is exposed, usually through the walls and ceilings, but also occasionally through a support column. The raw use of concrete and steel give the building a bit of an industrial feel. Although it’s softened by the presence of other finishes.

From the architects: “This is to our knowledge the first architecture/sound collaboration of this type since Le Corbusier/Xenakis/Varèse’s Philips Pavilion of 1958… exposed concrete ceilings, elements of wall and a single elliptical column create a warm, cavelike feel…”

“…The building is a very bold addition to a London conservation area (of predominantly Victorian houses). It nudges forward of the historic building line to give views down the street, capture sunshine around the clock, and look out towards a local landmark church.”

Photos © Hélène Binet, Chance de Silva