Project 2 : The Metalli-Gaga Villa'

Design Statement

This villa is a double-storey, which built-up area is not more than 375 square meter on the vacant land located at Cangkat Minden Jalan 8, Minden Height, Gelugor, Penang.

‘The Metalli-Gaga Villa’ is designed for Hetfield and his family to create an intimate interaction and integration between him and his family. It is designated for him to enjoy his own personal and private space and his family without any disturbance after living in a fame addiction lifestyle. It is also a great opportunity for him to practice his hobby and living in a straight-edge style.

Overview board

Design Concept

The concept is to create an intimate integration between user and space and to foster a connection between building and outdoor environment or bringing natural elements into the architectural space. The open plan area of living room and dining area have become the core of the house to allow Hetfield and his family to enjoy different activities. The overall floor plan is to generate a rather unique walk-through experience throughout the house. The facade materials and color compositions have been chosen to convey an intimate tropical modern space experience.

First board (1/4)

Second board(2/4)

Third board (3/4)

Final board(4/4)

Client background : James Alan Hetfield

A co-founder, lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist and main songwriter for the American heavy metal band Metallica. He was born in 3 Aug 1963 in Downey, California, U.S. He has a spouse who is a costume designer and 3 children (2 daughters and 1 son). His family kind of disintegrated when he was a kid that his father left in 1976 and his mother passed away in 1979.

He has a variety of hobbies including hunting, farming and beekeeping which are related to nature, customizing cars and motorcycles in his garage and collecting variety of guitars.

Hetfield has experienced a few accidents in his life, but the most important and influential to him is his alcohol abuse. His wife kicked him out of his house and he started to consult therapist because losing his family was the thing that scare him the most, maybe part of his upbringing contributed to this. For him, it was essential to maintain his relationship with those he loved the most when looked back on his time in treatment.

He has a tattoo of two razors on his left wrist which symbolize straight edge X symbol which stated he is a reborn straight edge. Straight edge is a subculture and subgenre of hardcore punk whose adherents refrain from using alcohol, tobacco, and other recreational/non-prescribed drugs.

Rendering attempt done in lumion