EYRC + johannes girardoni spectral bridge house emits light and color in venice, california

spectral bridge house is a collaborative project between architecture firm, EYRC, and light and space artist, johannes girardoni, located in venice, california. the residence doubles as an immersive art experience through a light sculpture within the building, which uses the reflecting walls of a glass atrium to create an illusion of a floating passageway. titled spectral bridge, the light sculpture runs on a program timed to the sunset and sunrise, shifting through color sequences based on a year-long evolution of the spectrum.

all images by matthew millman

the collaboration between takashi yanai and steven ehrlich of EYRC with artist johannes girardoni integrates art, design, and architecture into a residential project that could also be called ‘a vessel for living and art.’ situated in a narrow lot in an eclectic urban neighborhood about a mile from the beach, the residence comprises three two-story living blocks. their monolithic shapes are disrupted by irregular angles and rotated axes, and sensitively scaled to surrounding houses. the lower level volume is wrapped in shou sugi ban (charred wood cladding), a technique from 18th-century japan, while the rest of the volumes comprise white-hued monolithic exteriors. lined up in a row, the living areas open to discrete outdoor spaces on both the ground and upper floors, forming multiple decks, gardens and a pool court. a roof deck above the central volume provides another layer of outdoor space and views out over the neighborhood.

the three two-story living blocks are connected by girardoni’s artwork spectral bridge, which links the first two buildings by a bridge within a glass atrium, and the rear two structures by an exterior bridge. the sculptural piece runs on a program timed to the sunset and sunrise, shifting through color sequences based on a year-long evolution of the spectrum. family and visitors experience it from the inside as a series of spaces defined by lines of light, volumes of color and ambient sound. viewed from the outside, the bridge appears as a glowing physical volume, a light sculpture that unifies the architecture. interior living spaces include an ‘art lounge’ for colored light and sound baths between the bridges, flanked by separate bedroom wings.