-
Architects: Alberto Zavala Arquitectos
- Area: 416 m²
- Year: 2013
Text description provided by the architects. These two beach homes were conceived having in mind sustainable and eco-freindly design principles fulfilling at the same time practical issues in this tropical coast.
The foundation is based on concrete piles to reduce the impact on the terrain and to integrate subtly to the site, protecting the properties in case of eventual hurricanes. The built footprint is at a 20% of the total lot area with the intention of impacting the least possible, respecting the most of the coastal dune. The floor plan solution is very compact and practical at the same time. The different facades are treated according to the orientation, having an interesting display on the south, based on semi-open and closed volumes of concrete and bamboo structures that act as solar radiation and privacy controllers.
These areas to the south where the services are located work as a thermal cushion and are packed for construction and maintenance convenience. As opposed the north facade has a transparente treatment to take advantage of the views. Large eaves protect from summer solar incidence and rain. The bioclimatic design is of great importance due to conceiving the architecture as an autonomous structure with excellent environmental behavior.
Cross ventilation is present in all areas using the staircase volume as a “vertical lung” of injection and extraction of wind.
Concerning materials selected these were considering low maintenance and high durability through time, eliminating the use of painting, and instead incorporating an integral finish based on an antique mayan technique “chukum” of excellent construction and visual properties.
The first floor level acts as an open space, integrating movable wood and sisal panels to subdivide and use as convenience. To avoid contamination of the soil ecological septic tanks were included, for sewage treatment, generating at the end of the process areas of coastal endemic vegetation.
The dwellings were conceived to be discovered, having all main spaces views to the ocean, and incorporating the concept of “magic cube”: an exterior pool space elevated on piles in a semi-open virtual cube of concrete and bamboo, creating an area dedicated to the delight of the senses: water, light, shadow, texture, horizon views…
