CASA JL

The beaty of mirroring its ownsurroundings.

The house is divided into 2V like structures that overlap an uneven terrain, each one composes the top and lower-level levels of the home. The lower structure connects the garage, utility room, and storage rooms through a closed corridor and then opens up to the kitchen, dining room and living area, and TV room. The space needed to feel transient, allow communication between the social areas whilst keeping a sense of intimacy in every space. Architectural elements such as the staircase become disruptors of the open space paths but also function as contemplative elements.

A space designed to do disrupt the sensorial realm. Influence emotion and create connections with its context. Stripping down of any unnecessary elements that can contaminate its energy.

Furniture is placed throughout the space with meaning, creating a direct relationship between both.  A sense of raw materiality in the environment and objects that compose it, contrasts the tonal interiors with warmth and texture. This makes every room feel as a curated object collection that is not only purposeful but meaningful. Nothing should seem out of place; nothing should feel superfluous.

Is it beautiful? Does it serve a purpose to the space it in habits? Does it influence the way people interact with the space? Does it establish a sensorial relationship with them? These are all questions that were consistently asked and looked for.

Asymmetry is intentional and repetitive throughout the entire home. Elements such as overlapped rugs would disrupt otherwise stiff compositions and structured architecture.

The terrace has an outdoor living space that is embedded at ground level, avoiding any type of visual contamination from the interior view points, and sits beside a dinning and BBQ area. The dark pool becomes a natural mirror that changes throughout the day, creating reflections that contrast linear architectural structures with the organic, colorful aerial views.

The upper structure connects three bedrooms that overlook three completely different sceneries. Every bedroom is stripped down of all its unnecessary elements, and is proposed as a contemplation area for each scene. Wood and concrete contrast becomes a connecting theme between them.

Team:
Architecture and interior design: Cinco Sólidos
Client: Jose Latorre
Video: Daniel Bedoya
Builder: SAM
Photography: Nick Wiesner, Anna Dave

High atop a hill overlooking Medellín, Casa JL represents a striking, sculptural approach. Framing stunning views, the architecture is enriched by light – by day, a sequence of lights and shadows; by night, its stark interiors are complemented by the skilled placing of Flos solutions.

The unique design of Casa JL exposes the Medellín mountains, its tropical vegetation, and its climate, reinforcing the connection between home and city. Since the main areas of the house are open to the exterior both physically and conceptually while the second floor is more private, lighting is an important factor in determining comfort and purpose. 

Light offers the chance to decide not only what should be illuminated but how. In addition to an aesthetic style that suits the architecture, the chosen luminaires highlight the other defining elements of the space and provide the desired overall warmth.

Weaving its way through the house with an almost invisible presence in the daytime, Micro Running Magnet is the perfect minimal, functional lighting solution to ensure the space and the view always take centre stage.

The combination of spotlights and general lighting creates an attractive play of light and shadow, emphasising and enhancing the different environments through the open spaces of the house.

The minimalist aesthetic of the Micro Running Magnet conceals extreme versatility, making it extremely easy to adapt and adjust the lighting schemes in this spectacular residence to suit the changing needs of a modern home.

Casa JL was designed to reflect an austere minimalism that embraces the nature in which it is immersed. It is a spectacular residence designed by 5 Sólidos, of over a thousand square meters overlooking the city of Medellin in Colombia.

Distributed on two floors, the dynamic volume of the residence has a core of raw concrete mitigated by the skillful use of materials such as wood and glass. On the ground floor, the common areas include a large living room, a dining room with kitchen and a living room with separate TV room. The open-plan common area is designed to be transitional, allowing for communication between the different social spaces while maintaining a sense of intimacy.

In the bathroom areas, CEA taps from the GIOTTO and OPUS collections in satin finish stainless steel are used. Here too the combination of steel, stone and wood, tactile materiality and warmth dictates the style, which is based on severe elegance and a palette of neutral colours.

The large windows and the greenery that extends into the living space reiterate the total appearance of the architectural structure in its natural habitat. The outdoor terrace, which is located next to the dining and barbecue area, was designed on the ground level as a continuation of the internal areas. Here the swimming pool, which extends throughout the entire length of the building, becomes a natural mirror that changes with each passing of the day. The outdoor shower in satin stainless-steel stands between the thousand lines of the teak cladding walls.

Architecture – 5 Sólidos
Photos – Nick Wiesner