Hasta La Ideas

Lisbon studio Atelier Data has converted a row of stables in rural Portugal to create a summer retreat for a family (+ slideshow).

The architects removed the partitions that separated each stable but retained the building’s central pathway, named “the horse path”, to use as a long corridor stretching though the house. “The building keeps its original logic exactly, where the same central corridor connects several spaces,” Atleier Data told Dezeen.

The building is divided into five equally sized rooms, separated by chunky dividing walls that contain toilets, fireplaces and closets.

The corridor runs through the centre of each room and can be closed off using wooden doors with exposed bracing. “We decided to use the same logic of the old doors of the mews,” said the architects.

Wooden trusses and ceiling beams are painted white and left visible in each room. The floors are waxed concrete, apart from in the kitchen and bathrooms where the architects added colourful mosaic tiles.

“We decided to use resistant and affordable materials that would fit in with both the old building and the new usage,” added the architects.

Four of the rooms are used as bedrooms and each features a wash basin decorated by artist João Mouro.

Instead of having an obvious front door, the house has 16 glazed entrances that slide open on all four elevations.

Other recently completed houses in Portugal include a residence with red concrete walls and a bright white house with a sprawling extension.

See more houses in Portugal »

Photography is by Richard John Seymour.

Here’s some more information from Atelier Data:

Sítio da Lezíria – converting mews into housing

The intervention site is located in Alcácer do Sal, Alentejo, a region truly strategic in the country of Portugal because of its geographical, environmental and landscape features.

Above: concept diagrams – click for larger image

In this area, Sado river was one of the main factors of growth due to its navigability. The extensive areas for the production of salt represented equally a strong economical development of the region, combined with the existing rich soil, which promoted agriculture. Agriculture is still the dominant activity of the region.

Named ‘Sítio das Lezírias’, the extensive property (approximately 14 ha) in which the intervention takes place, an ancient agricultural area, there are two existing buildings– the manor house, and the mews, whose rehabilitation project was done by Atelier Data.

Above: floor plan – click for larger image

The conversion of the mews into housing, gave us the opportunity to think about domestic space and also to test the way that people can inhabit again ancient rural areas.

This project is the result of the first phase of a wide strategy that aims to revive an old agricultural land, combining new agricultural techniques with a new way of living.

Above: long section – click for larger image

Design guidelines for the conversion of the mews into housing:
» Keeping the original wooden structure of the roof and the circulation axis/central corridor [the horse path];
» Conversion and redesigning of the former horses’ spaces into flexible housing units;
» Distribution of the “water cores” – functional batteries – within the limits of each dwelling unit [equipped walls];
» Recovery of traditional building techniques and materials within a logic of reinterpretation and reinvention of domestic space;

Above: cross section – click for larger image

Architects: Atelier Data, Lisbon, Portugal
Location: Quinta da Lezíria, Alcácer do Sal, Portugal
Project year: 2012
Project area: 210 sqm
Artist: João Mouro
Engineering: Emanuel Correia

The post Sítio da Lezíria
by Atelier Data appeared first on Dezeen.

Jagged copper balconies emulate the topography of surrounding landscape as they fold around the exterior of this apartment block in north-east Italy by architects Plasma Studio (+ slideshow).

Positioned beside the Dolomites, the three-storey Dolomitenblick building contains six holiday homes that each face north-east towards the mountains.

A diagonal recess slices down the centre of the facade, separating the balconies of different apartments and breaking down the volume of the building.

“This incision becomes the main defining element of the building,” explains Plasma Studio. “From the cut at either side a strip unfolds that forms the balustrade of a generous covered balcony and ends into the surrounding topography.”

The whole facade also slopes backwards to match the incline of the sloping land, finishing with an asymmetric interpretation of a traditional gabled roof, which the architects were asked to incorporate by the local planning authorities.

“Slightly deformed, it merges with our design intention but also with the traditional typology of pitched roofs,” say the architects, explaining how they wanted to explore the “new potentials of a traditional typology”.

Inspired by local farmhouses, the architects used larch to clad the walls behind the pre-oxidised copper balconies, as well as the floors and walls inside each apartment.

They also made various depressions into the ground, adding low-level windows and a tunnel leading into an underground parking area beneath the building.

Above: balconies design concept

Plasma Studio have completed a few buildings in northern Italy, including a hotel with stripy timber cladding and a housing block in South Tyrol. See all our stories about Plasma Studio »

Above: vertical incision design concept

Photography is by Hertha Hurnaus.

Here’s some more information from the architects:

Dolomitenblick

The building is located on a hillside in the Dolomites, at the end of a residential area.

Above: location plan

The volume has been developed mainly from its pragmatic functional request to host 6 independent apartments with one common circulation: through a cut that marks the main access and the division of the units the volume is splitted into 2 halves. Besides its functional meaning this incision becomes the main defining element of the building: from the cut at either side a strip unfolds that forms the balustrade of a generous covered balcony and ends into the surrounding topography. Following the steep natural hillside with each floor the strips and the façade jump back.

Above: site plan

Programme

The building hosts 6 generous holiday homes, all directed to the sun and the panoramic view of the Dolomites. Each private unite is designed to get a maximum of privacy: through the division of the whole building volume into 2 parts, through the stepped balustrades which avoid insight from the above unit and from the passing by street. Each apartment gets an extension of the internal living area by a covered sun and view facing terrace which at each floor ends in a small private garden. Local larch wood defines internal and external living areas. Floor to ceiling glazing allows the maximum view and energetic gain as directed to south, external sun blinds and the overhangs of the above balconies minimize overheating during summertime.

Above: apartments level one plan

The main circulation is very compact and a continuation of the volume defining gap and repeats the use of the local larch wood and the color code of the façade.

Above: parking level plan

Material

Sitting at the edges of a residential area with a very eclectic and non-coherent appearance we focus to contrast these surroundings by simply generating a volume which grows out of its natural surrounding topography and blends again into it, by minimizing the used materials to a very local, almost vernacular code: larch wood and pre oxidised copper. Both the copper and the larch wood are exposed to a natural change of colour by the atmospheric influence of sun, rain and snow. Through the repetition of the colours of old, close-by farmhouses with dark, sunburned larchwood facades this building volumes blends into its natural surroundings.

Above: front elevation

Focus was given to the design of the copper balustrades which start from the natural topography, grow, become balustrades, attach to the building where the gap defines the volume, peel again off and end finally in the surrounding topography. When peeling off, the metal sheets which are divided into horizontal strips describe a curved hyperbolic-parabolic geometry: crafts knowledge is brought to its extreme.

Above: side elevation

The dark copper surrounds the volume from all sides, the strips form a second layer which gives shelter from and insight and finally define the roof as a continuation of the overall façade and volume. The form of the roof itself derives from local planning regulation which allows only a pitched roof in this specific building plot: slightly deformed, it merges with our design intention but also with the traditional typology of pitched roofs by not simply repeating but rather exploring what new potentials of a traditional typology can be.

Above: rear elevation

Project: residential building with 6 units and underground garage
Client: private
Size: 1.050 sq m
Location: Sexten / Sesto Italy
Completed: Summer 2012

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by Plasma Studio appeared first on Dezeen.

Travellers visting the Mexican town of Tepoztlan can spend a few nights, months or even years at this three-armed concrete guesthouse by architects Cadaval & Sola-Morales (+ slideshow).

Cadaval & Sola-Morales designed the pavilion as the first in a series of new holiday homes in the town, which sits on the outskirts of Mexico City on the edge of the Tepoztlan mountain.

The building has three concave elevations that shape the boundaries of two patios at the back and an egg-shaped swimming pool at the front.

Walls slide back across each elevation, opening the building’s central room out to the garden. ”The lounge is set to be a central communal space for leisure in nature,” explain the architects.

This concept is emphasised by the presence of two trees growing up through the floor and roof, which the architects planned the structure around.

Rooms are contained at the three corners of the building, so that a living room is at one end, a children’s playroom is at another and a kitchen and two washrooms are in the third.

There are no beds in the building, only hammocks suspended across the lounge.

See more recent projects in Mexico, including a bone-like tower of concrete and a weekend house with a perforated facade.

Photography is by Sandra Pereznieto, apart from where otherwise stated.

Here’s a project description from Cadaval & Sola-Morales:

Tepoztlan Lounge

Tepoztlan, is a small town nestled between rocky cliffs located to the south of Mexico City, 50 kilometers away from the vibrant metropolis. With its well preserved historic center and wild countryside, Tepoztlan is a town of legends and deep cultural roots that has been appreciated by writers, poets, artists and musicians over many decades, turning it into their hometown or weekend retreat. Located in this incredible context and surrounded by an astonishing landscape, the Tepoztlan Lounge is the first building completed of a larger project that also includes a series of bungalows of different sizes and designs, which can be rented by years, months or days.

The lounge is set to be a central communal space for leisure in nature, and is located in the perimeter of an incredible lawn; the idiosyncrasy of the project relies on enabling the experience of the carefully manicured lawn while promoting the experience of the wild nature existing in the boundaries of this central space. The project is a negotiation between interior and exterior, a construction of an in-between condition, an inhabitable threshold, which becomes the main space of the project; the limits between the open and the content space merge to produce a single architectural entity.

The design establishes three separate living quarters designed in accordance to the 3 activities planned; each of them is a set space defined by its use, but also by a very clear and simple architectural container: the first holds an open bar with a kitchenette, together with a couple of restrooms and dressing rooms; the second is a play area for children that can also be used as a reading room when temperatures drop at night; and finally the largest container is the living area, an enclosed, tempered and comfortable space for conversation, TV, etcetera. But it is the desire to give continuity between these three separate areas where the project is empowered and becomes meaningful; a continuous space, in full contact with the nature but protected from its inclemency is set up not only to expand the enclosed uses, but also to allow new activities to arise.

And it is through the definition of this central space, through the definition of its shape, that the contiguous courtyards are defined; those are as essential to the project as it is the built architecture, and allows constructing as a whole, single spatial experience. At the same time that the three built containers give continuity to the central space by mans of their use and space, the adjacent patios qualify it, while providing diversity and idiosyncrasy to open space. The design of the swimming pool is part of this same intervention, and responds to the desire to characterize the spaces; its formalization necessarily resonates the layout of the lounge, while incorporating to its nature the possibility of a multiplicity of ways of using water, and plunging on it.

The building is located as a plinth valuing the views of the mountains. The building wants to be respectful to the existing context, and understands that the vegetation and life at open air are the real protagonist. Two impressive trees that are in place are incorporated within the layout of the lounge, as if they were part of the program itself. The Tepoztlan Lounge is constructed in concrete not just for being a inexpensive and labor intensive material in Mexico and to minimize its maintenance, but also to expose its structural simplicity and neutrality towards the astonishing nature.

Above: photograph is by Diego Berruecos

Name of the project: Tepoztlán Lounge.
Name of the Office: Cadaval & Solà-Morales.
Project: Eduardo Cadaval & Clara Solà-Morales.
Collaborators: Eugenio Eraña Lagos, Tomas Clara, Manuel Tojal.
Structural Engineering: Ricardo Camacho de la fuente.
Location: Tepoztlán, Morelos, México.
Área: 250sqm.
Date: Project: 2009. Construction 2012

Above: site plan – click above for larger image

Above: floor plan – click above for larger image

Above: front elevation – click above for larger image

Above: east elevation – click above for larger image

Above: rear elevation – click above for larger image

Above: west elevation – click above for larger image

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Cadaval & Sola-Morales appeared first on Dezeen.

Hundreds of perforations are dotted across the monolithic facade of this weekend house outside Mexico City by AS/D Asociación de Diseño.

The architects were inspired by the shapes of surrounding trees to create the patterns, which provide a simple relief across walls clad with Trespa rainscreen panels.

Named Casa Alta, the three-storey building has a tower-like form that is set into the sloping landscape of its valley setting.

“The building became an observation tower house and this allowed the perforated tree image to be better read from the facade,” architect Fernando Velasco told Dezeen.

The building’s entrance leads into a living room on the middle floor, while the kitchen and dining area is located below and the bedroom and bathroom can be found upstairs.

Stairs also lead up from the bedroom to a wooden deck on the roof. “We had to come up with a sliding deck which could open and close, but also have a minimum impact on the overall volume, said Velasco. ”The deck slides closed over the bedroom to complete the wooden floor, resulting in a larger surface to enjoy the view.”

See more projects in Mexico, including a house with a high-walled courtyard and a hotel of 20 separate cabins.

Photography is by Rafael Gamo.

Here’s some more information from AS/D:

Casa Alta.
AS/D asociación de diseño

Located on a steep slope within a 1,500 square meter plot with magnificent views to the valley, the main structure of this weekend house consists of a 6m by 6m module in three levels with just 108 square meters and a roof deck overlooking the valley.

The structural walls made of striped exposed concrete make this house a monolith inserted in a steep topography highlighting discreet light penetration, as well as directed views towards the garden.

A staircase parallel to the site guides the user from the entry level to the outdoor platform below, the same way in which the house is interconnected from the lower level to the roof garden.

The site presents a difference in level of about 16 meters in one direction, offering magnificent views of the surroundings; the house is inserted at a specific level from which it optimizes different entry levels and the integration of the exterior space. A clear connection is generated throughout the 3 main levels of the projects: entry level, the levels of the house and the lower level platform containing the pool. The project is conceived as stacking program enclosing different uses on specific levels of the site.

The house works a vertical block organised by vertical circulation through a stacked staircase which connects the user to different levels and program having on the lower level the kitchen with dining area, the intermediate level or entry level the living room, the top level the bedroom and full bathroom, and above that the roof deck. The directed views are key to the project as per orientation of each level and space interconnection on the inside.

A platform on the lowest part of the site becomes the common space for relaxation, ending with the landscape intervention and programmatic experience. This platform of 200 square meters consists of a swimming pool, grill, outdoor dining tables, and lounge spaces, with views the valley as well as the river.

The design of the ventilated facade is conceived with the idea of somehow printing an abstract image of a tree, just as if the house would camouflage with the many existing trees from the site.

The façade evolves from the idea of digital pointillism where the image of a tree is digitalized with the same technique of the impressionist paintings, where the user is able to see the full image from a distance but as one gets closer it becomes a constellation of pixels which gives a unique texture to the house. This is achieved with 232 Trespa panels from which 40% are perforated using CNC technology for the fabrication and precision and placed on an aluminum sub-structure.

Casa Alta, is a subtle intervention to the site, context and vegetation, with a minimum footprint to allocate the basic needs for a weekend house. A house that becomes and observatory from the inside and a house of intervention from the outside. A house to enjoy the outdoors.

Type: Single family residence
Architectural design: AS/D asociación de diseño. Fernando Velasco + Paola Morales
Team: Santiago García de Letona, Fernando Polidura, Natalia Gomez, Piergianna Mazzocca
Construction: Punto y Raya Arquitectura y construcción + AS/D asociación de diseño
Facade: material: Trespa installation: Katorceespacios
Structure: Ing. Cesar Pérez Carbajal
Location: Huixquilucan Estado de México. México
Plot Area: 1,600 m2
Built Area: House. 108 m2, Platform 200 m2, services 30 m2
Project Year: 2010
Construction Year: 2011-2012

Site plan – click above for larger image

Ground and first floor plans

Second floor and roof plans

Axonometric diagrams – click above for larger image

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de Diseño appeared first on Dezeen.

This all-white summer house outside Moscow by architect Peter Kostelov has sunbeds and a see-saw but no windows or doors.

The house was designed for a Russian TV programme in which the clients and the architect meet only once to exchange ideas before the architect takes the project through to completion.

The clients were an active family who wanted their dacha, or summer house, to be a place for sport and exercise as well as sunbathing, barbecues and parties.

The only requirement from the parents was that the architect didn’t add a basketball court, so this gave Kostelove “complete freedom for fantasy and creativity,” he said.

Kostelov designed a building that’s open to the elements, with rolled-up blinds fitted into the wall openings to provide shelter when needed.

The built-in sunbeds are positioned alongside a small sunken bathing area at one end of the house.

A small cubicle with a bucket of water suspended above it allows residents to cool off after a session in the sauna room next door.

Horizontal bars have been fitted on the wall behind the see-saw where they function as a simple gym.

The roof terrace is accessed by sets of stairs at either end or by the central ladder. Sheltered underneath the roof terrace is a kitchen and dining area as well as an indoor shower.

Other projects by Kostelov we’ve featured include a Moscow apartment with metal walls and a summer house made of patchwork wood.

See all our stories about Peter Kostelov »
See all our stories about holiday homes »
See all our stories about Russia »

Photographs are by Zinon Razutdinov.

Here’s some further information from the architect:

The project was specially done for the TV programme Dachniy Otvet. In the frame of the programme the customer and the author of the project meet only once, and then time comes for projecting and construction which is the matter of the architect exclusively. After the project is fully done it is filmed and customers are invited to view and evaluate it.

The first meeting with the customers defined and specified the project vector and its functionality. The customers are a family with strong sport background. Consequently they would rather get the place for summer recreation including sports than for doing gardening.

In addition the people in the family are quite hospitable and active, especially the elder daughter who hosts young people, so quite often these meetings turn into informal youth parties.

As for the parents there was the only remark from them: “Anything but basketball arrangement please!” So this short remark gave a complete freedom for fantasy and creativity. Surely to get unforgettable village pastime there must be a variety for it: barbecue, open air pool, summer cinema, volleyball ground, horizontal bars and modernised enhanced sport facilities.

The territory was divided into five functional zones:
1. The Swimming and bathing zone has a pool, a shower and a bucket for dousing after sauna. A small overpass adjoins this zone with a well to get water from. A significant detail of this area is a solar battery which massively contributes to an environmentally sustainable usage of the watering system especially when it comes to unpredictable Moscow weather.
2. The Lying in the sun zone has a few beach beds, podiums, armchairs; there must be a shelter to hide from the sun, to relax, to read a book etc.
3. The Gym has simple but enhanced sport facilities: horizontal bars, parallel bars, “health disks”, and swing, badminton and volleyball playgrounds. There also must be a referee’s chair too. Finally a chest for changing clothes and towels and other things is a must.
4. Kitchen and dining room should have a small kitchen, grill-barbeque, firewood stock, dinner table, summer cinema, and stereo-system and hammock chair.
5. Observation point is in fact the second level which is intensively used for sunbathing. So there are a few check beds and watering system.

The weather in Moscow district is unpredictable and changeable which is quite typical and which defines the functionality of the project.

All components of the project like shelter, fragments of dead walls, horizontal and vertical ledges which cover light hatches depending on weather conditions and which either let the light through or prevent it from the sun, rain or wind. Due to zone planning and plain transformation the project creates maximum comfort for anyone in whatever weather conditions.

Initially the idea of so called architectural “origami” seemed well turned. Surely in the course of construction the project was being transformed but the idea of a folding book, the saw cuts of which created new capacities, shapes and spatial ties-in appeared quite a winning one. More than that such approach made it possible to create tie-ins between closed and open spaces, between horizontal and vertical plains; as a result it makes the space interwork in a new way.

The project lives as double functional one: on the one hand it returns to nature and on the other the project protects from the wind, rain and sun heat. These two interworking forms have subtle boundaries and complement each other, working as all-in-one-piece project. The white colour was chosen to support the white buildings of the house and sauna.

Architecture: Peter Kostelov
Building: 2012
Constraction Area: 71 m2
Total area: 100 m2
Specifier: TV Channel NTV, programme Dachniy Otvet
Location: village Zenkino, Moscow region, Russia

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Peter Kostelov appeared first on Dezeen.