House in Pozuelo de Alarcon by A-Cero Architects

Article @Contemporist. A-cero Architects designed the house in Pozuelo de Alarcón, in Madrid, Spain.

House in Pozuelo de Alarcón by A-cero Architects

The house is hided behind a harmonious sculptural set of curved walls made of stone dark granite and marble travertino that seem to emerge from a big water plate arranged in the house entry.

In addition to the beauty of this structure, it offers a high grade of privacy and tact between the exterior (street) and the house. Other more, this structure goes to the back part, as a front, where is a natural, clear and kind scenery.

This block disposition and the house plot (a descending slope towards a lake) are used to distribute the house in two plants: a high floor, with exterior access, and a low floor. Both of them are looking to a wide terrace with a pergola and to the garden house.

In the high plant, we find a very wide and luminous hall provided with natural light for top skylights, and with two plates of waters dominated by two bronze lions. In addition it is used to lead to the kitchen, wine vault, dining room, lounge, office – library, and to the most private area: the principal bedroom, dressing-room, bath, interior swimming pool and small gymnasium. Also we find the stairs that descend to the low floor where there are a games lounge and a movies room, kids and guests bedrooms and the service area with two bedrooms in suite and with a wide area for the housework. All the house rooms are provided with wide large windows in a dark safety glass. These windows (that also works as doors) and a lot of house elements are completely computerized and motorized: lighting, safety, blinds, air conditioning … everything is centralized.

The high floor communicates with a terrace. In the lounge the access to outside is made by a long large window that provides a continuity sensation from the interior space to outside.

This terrace is covered by a pergola made of an aluminium structure that supports the sculptural premeditation of the building. In one of the side parts of the garden, there is a relaxation area with a pond of Buddhist inspiration.

Photographer: Ferran Silva (A-cero)

The Black House by Andrés Remy Architects

Article @Archdaily. Andrés Remy Architects designed The Black House in a suburb of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The Black House by Andrés Remy Architects

The black house was born by the request of a young couple, brought to us by another of our projects “The Waterfall House”, which gave us the challenge of improving what we had done at that moment, taking advantage of the freedom they gave us during the design.

This single house is located in a closed neighborhood, 30km. away from Buenos Aires. The lot, 20 meters wide and 50 meters length with 3 meter of lateral retreats, has amazing views to the lake we could not let aside.

The analysis of the lot showed us the advantages and disadvantages we should take into account along the entire design process. The best views to the lake were at the back of the lot, while the best orientation was at the front. The surrounding houses and the wide lot marked the visuals we should use.

The simple program, for a socially active couple without children, made relevant the resolution of the social areas. We decided to divide the social areas in two. In one side are located the common areas, such as the kitchen and the dinning room. On the other side is located the living room, closer to the lake.

The shallow pool that divides the house in two allows the indirect light to bathe the interiors, as the northern sun reflects it’s light on the water surface. This way, light is present in every corner of the house, but never in a direct way.

Both programs are connected by a glass bridge, with the water running under your feet.
The living room, 10 meters wide and 5 meters length, opens to the exterior using glass walls. It was thought in a lower level than the rest of the house, making it permeable and allowing the ambients a clean view to the lake.

The resolution of the first floor follows the same criteria of differencing areas. At the front are located the bedrooms for the future children, with views to the lake. As a bridge, joining the two volumes in the lower floor is the main bedroom with a giant overhang that conquers the best views to the lake, seeming to float over the water.

The Black House has an almost provocative sobriety, where the pure white in the inside provoques an emotive contrast with the absolute black in the outside, reminding the bite of an apple. A strong characteristic that names the house.

CREDITS:

PROJECT AND DIRECTION: ANDRES REMY ARQUITECTOS
DESIGN TEAM: ANDRES REMY, HERNAN PARDILLOS, JULIETA RAFEL, CARLOS ARELLANO, GISELA COLOMBO.
BUILDING DIRECTION: ANDRES REMY, ASOCIATED HERNAN PARDILLOS.
STRUCTURAL STUDY: CLAUDIO.
SURFACE: 330m

GAD (Global Architectural Development) and Dara Kirmizitoprak have completed the CastleRock residential development in Bodrum, Turkey.

Article @Contemporist. GAD (Global Architectural Development) and Dara Kirmizitoprak have completed the CastleRock residential development in Bodrum, Turkey.

CastleRock by GAD and Dara Kirmizitoprak

CastleRock is a 3800m2 residential development located on a 12,000m2 site in Bodrum, a city on the southern coast of Turkey. Bodrum is nestled against the sea, and is characterized largely by its Mediterranean climate. The site is located near the center of Bodrum, perched on a hillside overlooking the city some 65m above sea level. The site is defined by its natural surroundings, and unobstructed views of the sea. The area is also surrounded by a number of archeological sites, including an ancient amphitheater constructed around the fourth century BC, and the Bodrum Castle, which was constructed in the 15th century.

CastleRock is thus shaped by the forces that surround it, and attempts to blend harmoniously with the neighboring environment and respond sensitively to the nature slope. As a strategy, the buildings are organized by bending and curving them along the natural contours of the site, thus sculpting the landscape and maximizing unobstructed views of the castle. This process is similar to that of braiding, where an organizational grid is established on the site, and a process of threading is used to organize the structures on the site.

As a result, housing types evolve thru a similar strategy, and are organized on different levels to provide a maximum level of variety. There are 16 units on the site consisting of 3 unique typologies. There are both duplex & triplex units, each with their own pool and garden. While sweeping walls provide a level of privacy for the units and maximize views from the houses, openings are punched in the stone walls in order to take advantage of the panoramic views at many different angles.

CastleRock makes use of very few materials, in order to respond more sensitively to the local environment and to provide a sense of unity with the natural surroundings. The buildings are constructed from four primary materials: stone, concrete, glass and steel. The natural stone cladding is regional, and is supplied from local quarries.