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Architects: Oficina 3
- Area: 290 m²
- Year: 2013
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Photographs:Carlos Varela and Oficina 3
Owners Request:
The owners were very concerned about the environment, specifically about energy and resource efficiency. They wanted to maintain their privacy, but also directed us to provide an open, light-filled design, that responded to the hillside site. The owners also wanted a more controlled garden-type of an area and a more natural landscape on the rear of the lot. Sensible green measures were to be included, although the project budget would not allow "Grand" measures.
Design Objectives on This Project:
Affordability + Resource Efficient + Modularity + Recycled Content + Directed Openness
The design response in this built project, as stated by the owners, is to untie their co-dependence on external energy supplies, will self-provide power with solar energy, gray water will be re-used, the natural controlled garden acts as a Rainwater-Harvesting System, to be used for growing vegetables and other plants.
To preserve privacy, bring in light while minimizing unwanted solar heat gain, and provide connection to nature, we oriented a large window wall north to the back yard, sloping the ceiling of the great room up to increase the light and connection to nature in that space. The sloping roof also provides a surface suitable for mounting the 13.4 kW PV system. Other building faces have smaller, windows that maximize light as well as privacy.
The following points were applied as basic concepts to our design.
Affordability
By direct use of these components, determined waste from post-industrial process and other industries, these raw elements lower cost, and provides the building project with an aesthetic determined by the physical properties of its natural found state. The effectiveness of these techniques depends on the capacity to differentiaterecoverable waste to ensure maximum efficiency and use of the material.
Recovery + Logistics + Application = Re-used
Re-used or Recycled Content.
The most important thing about this waste is how well made it is. Mostly because it is mass-produced for conditions in industrial automation. All Salvaged, refurbished, or remanufactured, material considered for disposal, goes through the process of renovation, or may be subjected to some form of manipulation or treatment to achieve, quality and functionality.
Form + Structural concepts
A site-built CMU inner structure, connected by a number of structural rings and foundation slab, define the core morphology of this building, other architectural pieces or building components are incorporated as walls, linings and envelope or skin, this latter, an important part of the inner workings of the house .
Envelope
By Continuous, control usage of resources. We took upon the fabrication of thiswooden membrane,
Constructed mainly by refurbished wood used prior in construction process and wood discarded from local factories, aided by a lattice of perforated metal around its surface both act as thermal barrier. The emblematic envelope (skin) acts as the outer layer mediating between the building and its surroundings.
