(under construction)
THE SITE The project consists of a detached house of 600m2 in Mas Nou, residential area of Platja d’Aro. It must be lived especially in summer. This is a plot of 2500m2, of irregular proportions. Assimilating it to a rectangle, the longest side of the plot is facing south, favored also by views towards the coast of Platja d'Aro and Sant Feliu de Guixols. These views can only be discovered from the highest point of the plot because it is conditioned by a topographic slope of about 3m. This situation favors the privacy of the south side of the plot, because the neighboring face is located at much lower altitude.
THE PROJECT. INTEGRATION INTO THE ENVIRONMENT The project breaks the program to cause a volume articulated in different parts to be integrated more kindly in the environment, minimizing its volume. This strategy of moving parts can also provide privacy to the program areas when needed, without renouncing to a transparent treatment that puts each different unit in contact with the surrounding trees and views. The building gets integrated into the strong topography by semi-burying the ground floor plan. This is protected by the inertia of the ground and facing south, enjoying the sea views. This makes the first floor appear as an apparent single volume, visible from the street almost as an isolated volume, minimizing its impact. At this level the pieces are wrapped with a permeable steel skin that causes light and deep shadows, functioning as a passive system, creating interstitial spaces that extend the program of the house with terraces and porches, stretching space and promoting an activity at home closely linked to the covered outdoor spaces. Semi-burying and creating this double perimeter gives a lighter appearance that avoids the large building volume. The protective steel skin allows the inner enclosure to be very transparent, encouraging an ongoing relationship with the outside. The composition of the outer skin functions as a brise-soleil perimeter, changing depending on the different orientations and views. It’s vertical rhythm has to do with the oaks of the place. The brise soleil is both structural and supports the top deck that is designed in the form of 3 leaves. The inner glass skin contains the program and integrates the views of the natural environment, especially favoring the views of the sea, at south (where the house is fully open). It also allows each of the interior volumes to appropriate a certain gap, semi-exterior, which can multiply and qualify the interior spaces, and to live life between inside and outside.
SUSTAINABILITY CRITERIA - PASSIVE SYSTEMS: • SEMI-BURIED LEVEL: minimizes the impact of the building and promotes inertia and thermal stability. • SOUTH FACING: units are oriented to south (where are the views) and the service program is faced to north. • CROSS VENTILATION: north-south and east-west. • DOUBLE SKIN: acts as a porch, providing thermal comfort inside, and shade. • INDIGENOUS GARDEN: respecting existing trees (oaks)
- ACTIVE SYSTEMS: • GREEN COVER: walkable floor covering the buried parts • SOLAR PANNELS: integrated into the garden in a fence style, are used for hot water, underfloor heating and indoor pool. • RESERVOIR: rainwater collection (located using the building excavation). • CARPENTRY: Venetian blind in dual camera windows.
COMPATIBLE WITH INNOVATION ECONOMIC VIABILITY The project structure (concrete walls and steel columns) is both enclosure and sun protection, optimizing the use of other materials or other industrial cladding. This project is developed according to the integration of sustainability criteria by favoring passive low energy systems.
PROGRAM The client proposes a clear premise: he wants to develop life on the first floor level (favored by the best views). The lower level should be available for children (3 bedrooms) and an indoor pool in contact with the garden at this level.
