the design was a collaboration among pierre chareau (a furniture and interiors designer), bernard bijvoet (a dutch architect working in paris since 1927) and louis dalbet (craftsman metalworker). much of the intricate moving scenery of the house was designed on site as the project developed. the historian henry-russel hitchcock as well as the designer eileen gray have declared that the architect was in fact 'that clever dutch engineer (bijvoet)'(gray). the external form is defined by translucent glass block walls, with select areas of clear glazing for transparency. internally, spatial division is variable by the use of sliding, folding or rotating screens in glass, sheet or perforated metal, or in combination. other mechanical components included an overhead trolley from the kitchen to dining room, a retracting stair from the private sitting room to mme dalsace's bedroom and complex bathroom cupboards and fittings.