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Architects: Juan Ignacio Castiello Arquitectos
- Area: 1098 m²
- Year: 2011
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Photographs:Carlos Díaz Corona, Mito Covarrubias
PRECEDENT:
The surface of the plot is approximately 1,780m2 with an almost flat topography. It´s form is rectangular (26x70) with irregular limits that run north-west. The two adjacent streets have very different characteristics: on the western end, it’s by a generous, quiet, private street with lots of tress; while the western end is by a very noisy and heavily transited avenue. The presence of curved lines appearing within the predominant straight lines was essential for the owners.
The family is integrated by the two owners and their 5 kids. Some of the hobbies they enjoy include traveling, hosting parties and exercise. They wanted a very functional house that caused a good impression without being pretentious. It was important for them that the house became the gathering place for their children´s friends and above all that it stimulated family reunions. Some of the main concerns were the flexibility to re-adapt the house once their children leave it and the noise from the adjacent avenue.
SOLUTIONS:
The floor plan is resolved with an “F” shaped scheme, creating with these two open patios. It faces east, towards the kindest view; opens southwards, to get the winter sun; closes to the western side, to create a barrier between the noises from the street and it concentrates all the services in the northern wing. The main volume is planted at the western end of the land, liberating this way the most possible surface of garden at the east end so that it merges with the wooded areas of the private street and also to create a minor presence of the house from the exterior.
The minor volume of the house, where the gym and the pool bathrooms are located, is buried half level below the garden so that, with the resultant height, it creates a visual obstacle that avoids seeing the street from the terrace but allowing to enjoy the treetops.
Spatial generosity was a spiritual and fundamental need. The inner path had to be fun and within a free environment.
DESCRIPTION:
The social areas are distributed within the first floor, in which the terrace occupies the most important place of the house, in the east arm of the “F”, between the garden and the main patio. The formal areas, such as the dining room and the living room, are located in the rear arm of the “F” in between the two patios, leaving the services joining the two arms and generating a strategical place for the kitchen, which gives service to the four eating places at the house. The house closes at its western end with a blind Vitroblock© wall that encloses the second patio. This wall also helps to dose the light from the west sun and diminish the noise from the avenue. The bedrooms with their respective services and a TV room are situated on the top floor. The main bedroom is located on the east arm, which has the best view, representing hierarchy and authority. Both the boy´s and the girl’s areas are flexible; they are divided internally by false walls so that they can be removed in the future re-adapting to the family´s new needs. The garage, a study and the complementary services (storage and utility rooms) are located in the basement.
