One of the most limiting factors of any project is the budget. A low budget demands much more of the architect's inventiveness to ensure the quality of the work. Since most house constructions have a lower financial investment than architects would like, we thought it essential to highlight some examples which stood out because of the architect's ingenuity in solving the low budget "problem" by creating quality solutions.
Details of each project after the break.
Casa Vila Matilde / Terra e Tuma Arquitetos Associados
In early 2014, the house showed clear signs of deterioration and began to collapse. Ms. Dalva went on to live on rent at a relative's house. The new house had to be built as fast as possible, else her expenses would completely consume all savings. We used our recent experiences in exposed, structural wall blocks to erect a low-cost building, with great control and agility.
The tight budget led to the decision to try to avoid subsequent finishes after construction was over, and that the construction itself was to be its own material expression. The materials are exposed defining the colors and textures of the construction as result and expression of the implicit technique in the process that does not seek to hide its essence.
Casa dos Caseiros / 24.7 arquitetura design
“Casa dos Caseiros” was first created to answer a private order for a social interest dwelling project to be built numerously throughout some cities in Rio de Janeiro state.
You can download the Casa dos Caseiros project free of charge here.
House in La Prosperina / Fabrica Nativa Arquitectura
With great determination and thinking of a strategy to recycle some of the existing materials, with a limited budget, we started the project. Of the existing 4.80 m by 5.50 m of construction, we recycled: the roof, sanitary facilities, three out of four walls, the bathroom, half the floor made of wooden slats and particle boards.
Gutter House / Núcleo de Arquitetura Experimental
After choosing the site, the big challenge was to overcome the limitations of the Brazilian Programme, Minha Casa Minha Vida, and so, provide the opportunity of living in a house with contemporary architectural concepts with its functional, technical and aesthetic qualities. The low amount of money available to build the house demanded dexterity to optimize the interior spaces and for choosing building materials and construction techniques.