Aktion Poliphile

The inspiration for the project was Poliphil , hero of the fifteenth century allegorical novel Hypnerotomachia Poliphili . It is composed of the guest house House of Saturn and the main dwelling House of Delia Saturn symbolises the idea that time creates and then destroys itŽs creation, a symbol of life's fallibility. His roof is of lead and publicly expressionless red-render walls open only to the privacy of the garden, Delia the chaste goddess of youth, energy and health epitomises our modern times. Her superficiality, is clad in sun-bleached cedar.

At the elbow of Kettelerstraße two houses rise from the arable lands of north Wiesbaden, the House of Saturn and the House of Delia. Saturn symbolises the idea that time creates and then destroys itŽs creation. He is the bridge between the opposites of his own being, a symbol of life's fallibility. Delia the chaste goddess of youth, energy and health epitomises our modern times. Her darkside, prudently well hidden, reflecting the cold gloomy, sluggish side of Saturn. Rotating about a south facing courtyard the two houses form a private planetary system. Saturn solid and impenetrable, mimicking the built events of the neighborhood protects the sheltered garden from Kettelerstraße. Derived from the forests to the north Delia settles upon the extended hand of her ancestor and rests lightly, her East facade capturing that movement with the rising of the morning sun, Her modesty screened by a roof garden set in the manner of the virgin site.

The northern view is governed by Delias stern manner, reminding us of when Poliphilio, roamed the German plains and Harz forests. The story tells us that only by seeing the shadow in oneself can human reality and life be comprehended as it is by nature insecure and problematic. Saturn is the generator of that inner search. The joy of life is not forgotten on the bright side of the house as a skirt lifted on the south facade forms an arbour on which fine grapes grow. As the fruit ripens the arbour distorts chaotically shading the cedar terrace. For purists selective harvesting can restore order. Guests announce their arrival at the street gate and are permitted entry at the residents discretion. Shaded by a red sandstone wall the darkness of Saturn is stressed until walking from beneath his shadow the wall falls away to be replaced by the crowns of the topiary. To the left scent from the flowering shrubs heightens the senses for the crossing of a bridge to the main entrance door through which a glimpse of the distant forest is afforded