Far too often, detail and spatial experience is lost in transition when a building design moves from scale model to actual construction. However, Maison Keiffer in Luxembourg preserves and enhances the initial vision of its architects at firm STEINMETZDEMEYER. The most striking characteristic of the residence is its red cedar cladding that dominates the house’s façade. The parallel planks of wood and great precision of the inch-wide spacing between each bar create an effect that mimics the clear, meticulous strokes of a black-and-white line engraving. Extending a few inches past the sectional ends of the house, the horizontal bars are functional as a shade that outlines a small patio space past the glass doors. The wooden skin of the house is interrupted by glazing framed in black, as well as black cement fiber panels that accentuate the gabled roof of the residence. Inside, white walls and furniture contrast the heavier and darker exterior, just as the minimalist look of the hanging light fixtures and kitchen cabinets offsets the detailed and nuanced cedar grain. A window sits at the top of the stony staircase; truly, this staircase to heaven leads to spacious bedrooms and children’s playrooms that take advantage of the long dormer window on the second floor. Because of its spatial and material composition, Maison Keiffer is stunningly impressive in elevation as it sits within a quaint, traditional neighborhood.
