Archello Awards 2025: Open for Entries! Submit your best projects now.
Archello Awards 2025: Open for Entries!
Submit your best projects now.
Twin House
Nelson Garrido

Twin House

Comprised of two houses with a mirrored plan, each of the homes responds to different urban conditions. To the east, the first house looks onto a narrow internal road, with neighbors in close proximity; the second house faces westward onto a high-traffic, main road as well as the hot western sun.

photo_credit Nelson Garrido
Nelson Garrido

Both homes include a basement, ground floor, first floor, and rooftop. The basement area includes household services and a large multifunction room. On the ground floor, an L-shaped plan contains the house’s main functions, including the living room, dining room, office, and open kitchen all while enclosing an intimate garden and a pool. The main sleeping quarters are all located on the first floor, while occupants enjoy access to a terrace and gym on the roof.

photo_credit Nelson Garrido
Nelson Garrido

Twin House is designed that addresses a number of relevant social and environmental criteria that are all too often overlooked locally in residential architecture. It meaningfully tackles privacy concerns, especially in relation to its context. The design borrows from a rich regional vernacular and constructively builds upon it to develop robust and cohesive solutions. In the case of privacy, the stone Mashrabiya shields the interior spaces from onlookers and passers-by thus offering the family a secluded personal space. The stone itself is durable and hardwearing and effectively blocks and reflects the hot sun with its thermal properties and light color.

photo_credit Nelson Garrido
Nelson Garrido

Twin Houses main design element is driven by this unique, stone Mashrabiya, a privacy screen that wraps around the perimeter of the first floor. The Mashrabiya, which functions as a sort of stone “skin,” is stretched and manipulated strategically to maintain a sense of continuity that unifies the reading of the facade while remaining responsive to contextual and climatic issues.  The limestone screen adorns the facade and gives the illusion of a stretched fabric whose perforations differ as a response to the spaces behind. The screen protects the house from the harsh sun exposure.

photo_credit Nelson Garrido
Nelson Garrido

The openings and gaps in the Mashrabiya become progressively wider to allow light and control views to and from private spaces such as changing rooms, bathrooms, and bedrooms. Other apertures are designed as deep-set arched windows that reinforce the theme of curves, arches and clean lines throughout the house.

photo_credit Nelson Garrido
Nelson Garrido

During the evening, the Mashrabiya functions as a signature design element, creating a glowing lantern effect with soft light installations installed within the skin itself.

photo_credit Nelson Garrido
Nelson Garrido
photo_credit Nelson Garrido
Nelson Garrido
photo_credit Nelson Garrido
Nelson Garrido
Caption
Caption
Caption
Caption
Share or Add Twin House to your Collections