concept garage by Chris Altman
Earlier this year, Maserati and Architectural Digest invited individuals who appreciate fine design and cars to enter a competition titled "Design Driven." Two categories - Existing and Concept - asked entrants to submit a garage design that included a noted architectural element, uniqueness and individuality, while providing a complementary environment for a Maserati car.
"Our goal has been to open a conversation with those who place a premium on design and expose them to the unique qualities of Maserati," commented Mark McNabb, President and CEO of Maserati North America.
Winners include Holger Shubert's existing Los Angeles garage, as well as the concept design of Chris Altman, of Stubbs Muldrow Herin Architects of South Carolina.
Holger Schubert's garage (above) was designed with two objectives: to create a minimalist environment that features the car as a piece of art, and to create the ultimate experience for the driver to arrive at home. The gallery-like environment profiles the car during the day and dramatically projects its shapes onto both window walls at night.
Located on the upper floor of a new addition to a 1953 ranch-style home, the garage overlooks the western part of Los Angeles. The 1,200-square-foot space provides a designated spot for the car and a large open area for a couch, a slide-away TV, a built-in book shelf in front of a large storage room, along with a small kitchen, a bathroom and a library. A number of sustainable building products were used, including the electric screens on the exterior of the large window walls to help control the climate, as well as 47 solar panels on the roof. All walls are insulated with natural cotton fiber insulation.
The design approach of Chris Altman redefines the relationship between car, driver and garage. The garage is designed to refocus one's attention on the car. The garage's mass is stretched long and low to diminish its scale and give the sense of motion. The garage is clad on the exterior with rough-cut limestone contrasting the highly engineered feel of a Maserati. A reflection pool located adjacent to the garage provides a serene visual and a feeling of cooling. Even the method by which one arrives and departs the garage is inspired by Maserati's racing heritage and performance. Floor carriages rotate to different positions, allowing a driver to enter and exit the garage in an efficient manner while eliminating the need for backing the car out.
"Once considered merely an extended function of the home, the garage is now a space where people are finding new inspiration architecturally," said Giulio Capua, Vice President & Publisher of Architectural Digest. "The winners have accomplished this and now our five million readers will be able to enjoy these exceptional discoveries."
The winning garages will be featured in a special advertising section in the October issue of Architectural Digest.
All entries can be viewed at : www.DesignDriven.us
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