Jorn Utzon and Can Feliz

Jorn Utzon was a Danish Architect who has become well known for designing the Sydney Opera House. After leaving the construction of the Opera House in 1966, the Danish architect made a stop at Mallorca on his way home. Utzon became fascinated with the island and decided to design and build two houses Can Lis and Can Feliz.

Can feliz was built within the mountains far away from the humid sea breezes, with big windows overlooking the green pine grove that leads down to the sea. Can Feliz is a building that expresses Utzon's love for the concept of platforms. Utzon designed three blocks containing living, dining and bedroom spaces set side by side. To the right of the entrance hall are the private areas and courtyards, while to the left sits the formal living and working area, a grand theatre-like space over two levels descending towards the spectacularly framed view.

“It would seem theatrical,” Utzon has said of Can Feliz, “if I said that I have a household altar. But that’s what I have. This place is my altar. This is where, with the deepest respect, I face nature, and with the greatest passion, contemplate the sun and the land in front of me.”

Can Feliz.

Can Feliz and Japanese Architecture

Whilst analysing Can Feliz, it became evident that significant Japanese and Chinese building traditions and techniques have been adopted into the location, orientation aswell as the design and the plan of the building.

Similar to Japanese architecture, rooms have been positioned according to their importance. Within Can Feliz, I believe that public spaces are of highest significance and therefore are of much larger scale than the rest of the house. These spaces have been positioned in locations with extensive views of the surrounding hillside with intense natural lighting. Rooms have also been connected according to their functions.

Within the Public spaces, large room openings and the absence of doors lead the spaces to receive substantial views of the surrounding landscape, allowing its inhabitants to form a closer link to nature and as many Japanese architects have explored, a stronger relationship between man and natured if formed.

Feng shui is an ancient Chinese system of aesthetics believed to use the laws of both heaven and Earth to help one improve life by receiving positive qi (life force). Feng shui is a method by which the most auspicious/ fortunate orientation and location of a house is selected.

According to Feng shui, the best location and orientation is to be surrounded by a mountain at its back, looking out onto an open plain. I found it quite interesting that Can Feliz compliments Feng Shui; facing the water, looking out onto an open plain with a mountain surrounding its back.

Initial Conceptual Analysis Of Can Feliz:

Structural Analysis of Building:

From analysing structural and non structural aspects of Can Feliz, it becomes apparent that private and semi private areas are surrounded and closed in by numerous walls. However, the public spaces are all quite open, exposed and free flowing to the next space. This sense of openness begins to dictate the spaces where guests and other visitors are welcome and free to move within. The structural elements such as walls, become not only physical but also psychological "barriers".

Solar Analysis of site:

It is evident that throughout the building's plan, the harsh sun hits each of the public areas designed solely for entertainement, contemplation, relaxation and other public and social related activities whilst the semi public and private areas receive only filtered light from the exterior.

 

Spacial Analysis of Building:

  

Within Can Feliz, Utzon has dedicated majority of the plan to become "public spaces". Within the Parti Sketch above, I have attempted to highlight these public spaces to demonstrate the significant scale in contrast to the smaller private and semi private areas. The public spaces I have highlighted above has been given special treatment by Utzon within

the design of the house, and there are many aesthetic differences between these public spaces and the private rooms.

Different Functions for each Space and Room:

  

1. Entrance                    

2. Entry

3. Court

4. Work Room

5. Living Room

6. Kitchen

7. Dining Room

8. Covered Terrace

9. Bedroom

10. Terrace

11. Swimming Pool

The public spaces within the Plan are shaded lighter to represent the harsh sunlight these areas will receive. The private areas have been shaded darker representing the filtered light that will reach these spaces. It is evident that spaces for entertaining and socialising guests etc dominate the plan.

Platforms throughout Can Feliz:

After analysing the plan of Can Feliz, I noticed the significant level changes and use of platforms throughout the building. Further research was necessary inorder to discover the purpose behind all of these platforms and after reading Jorn Utzon's 1962 article "Platforms and Plateaus", I had identified numerous reasons and explanations.

"The platform as an architectural element is a fascinating feature. I first fell in love with it in Mexico on a study trip in 1949, where I found many variations, both in size and idea of, the platform, and where many of the platforms are alone without anything but the surrounding nature. All the platforms in Mexico were positioned and formed with great sensitivity to the natural surroundings and always with a deep idea behind. A great strength radiates from them. The feeling under your feet is the same as the firmness you experience when standing on a large rock."

Utzon makes many links to Chinese and Japanese architecture and the significance platforms hold within both traditions. "Chinese houses and temples owe much of their feeling of firmness and security to the fact that they stand on a platform with the same outline as that of the roof or sometimes even of larger size, depending upon the importance of the building."

There are many reasons behind the use of so many level changes and I believe that one is to control the movement and form boundaries for visitors and other individuals who are not residents of Can Feliz. Once an individual occupies a public space on a platform that is at a lower level than the other private areas of the house, I believe that one would begin to question their authority and invitation to enter a space at a higher level.

The use of raised levels, creates a seperation between public, private and semi private spaces whilst creating an obvious circulation path. The use of platforms not only controls the circulation, but also diverges and detours guests away from private spaces and back to their designated public areas.

Article Link: http://www.arranz.net/web.arch-mag.com/2e/recy/recy1t.html

Initial Partii Sketches:

Note: Each of the following Partii sketched are too defined and advanced and need to represent the initial and core ideas within the building, final Partii sketches will demonstrate Utzon's major conceptual ideas and planning behind the final plan.

Geometrical Analysis of Plan:

Utzon's plan for Can Feliz is very simple in its form, constructed through the use of repetitive rectangles and squares which form consistent right angles throughout the plan with not one curve present. The private and semi private spaces seem to be squared and the other public areas constructed of consecutive rectangles.

Physically Enclosed and Open spaces within the Plan:

As mentioned in another post, each of the private and semi private spaces and rooms seem to be almost completely enclosed which completely contrasts with all of the public spaces which are open, completely exposed and seem to flow quite smoothly onto the next space. Solid walls surrounding the private areas define which areas are designated to those who live within the house whilst the open and flowing spaces such as the terraces and swimming pool become obvious public spaces.

Public, Private and Semi Private Spaces:

The spaces within the plan that Utzon has designed to become Private are shaded the darkest, those which are semi private are also shaded however much lighter than the private areas. Majority of the remaining white unshaded areas are public spaces and as can be seen, the public spaces dominate the plan.

I believe that Utzon has designed public areas for socialising, entertaining, contemplation and relaxation quite generously. These public spaces are those which receive different treatment to the rest of the house in regards to natural lighting, scale, views, and aesthetic detail.

Circulation Paths within the Plan:

The Partii Sketch above demonstrates the possible routes one may take throughout the house due to signals gained from not only doors, but other openings between columns or even level changes. There are many options one may decide however there is one very controlled circulation path in which Utzon has controlled very strictly within his Plan. I will explore this intended and controlled pathway in my final Partii sketch.