Villa Spies, Modernist villa in Torö, Sweden
Villa Spies is a circular two-story house on a cliff in Torö with a dome-shaped roof made of fiberglass-reinforced plastic. A central dining area moves between floors through mechanical systems, connecting the kitchen level to the upper viewing space.
A Danish businessman commissioned a Swedish architect in 1969 to design this house after an architectural competition. The construction shows the technological and design possibilities available in Northern Europe at the end of the 1960s.
The house reflects how wealthy people in the 1960s saw technology and comfort as signs of progress and modernity. The interior with its mechanical systems shows how residents wanted to live - surrounded by gadgets that made daily life easier.
The house sits on a cliff with sea views, so wear sturdy shoes and be careful in slippery conditions. Access is via paths on the grounds that vary in walkability depending on weather.
The house included multiple slide projectors for displaying images on walls and ceilings, controlled through a panel built into the sofa. This detail shows the enthusiasm for home cinema and multimedia entertainment that existed in wealthy households of that era.
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