Luxembourg-based architectural practice, 2001 (www.2001.lu), has completed Hercule, a monolithic concrete single-family house in Mondorf-les-bains, in the South of Luxembourg. Named after local hero John “Hercule” Gruen for its robust strength, the volume emerges fiercely from the ground like the tip of an iceberg: the stepping of the plot, a residual portion of land situated between an old farm-house and a suburban villa, drove the design, breathing a strong sense of grounding into the site. Rather than working against the topographical constraint, the natural context helped to determine the layout of the home’s three levels as they step down the slope.
The basement gathers all the technical functions, including the garage; the entrance, the wardrobe, the laundry room, the fitness & spa area, the wine-cellar and the kitchen, as well as the dining-room and the living area, both of which are arranged in a single space of 14 x 6m, and open completely on the south-west side via a patio.
