From banality arises the strength of the AV+2F Houses. Guided by symmetry, repetition, and rhythm, these homes feature simple structural and construction techniques (ensuring cost predictability and ease during the building process). At the same time, this premise allowed the project to subvert the conventional aesthetics of residential façades. Passersby are met with the unfamiliar sight of unusually closed frontages, at odds with the traditional image of a house with clearly defined windows and doors. But those who ring the bell and come in for coffee gradually discover the many pathways and openings of the space—and its strong dialogue with the backyard garden.

At first glance seemingly closed off, the buildings open generously to nature and sunlight (the north-facing side is at the rear of the lot). This inversion of front and back not only offers more privacy to the residents but also optimizes natural lighting and fosters a fluid connection between the interior and the garden outside. Multiple openings also appear on the upper floors, in the private areas, where a hallway contains a small courtyard (providing a contemplative connection to nature), or a staircase leads to a rooftop terrace with an open view of the city. Above all, we didn’t want a hallway to be just a hallway—we wanted moving through the house to be engaging and pleasant.

The foundation of the project—floor plans that are rigorously organized and symmetrical—also helps ensure that the two houses built on the same lot, designed for two different generations, maintain a coherent aesthetic and form a unified architectural ensemble. This is achieved through the use of sandstone as a common material, and the orientation and proportions of the rooms, which, although distinct, relate to one another. In this sense, the project brings a device of classical architecture—this supposedly repetitive structure—into a contemporary language, creating a rhythm that is pleasing to the eye and a kind of silence that is always welcome in urban settings.

But that’s the end of the story; along the way, the challenge was to follow the rules set by our own floor plans, knowing when and where to insert small surprises—like a yellow staircase. Among the many possibilities and desires that each project brings, some, like this one, can become true crossroads. And it’s worth remembering that crossroads are also the places that lead us to new destinations.