Style of Design

This fascinating one room apartment stretches over an area of only 36 sqm, yet it is very smartly organized. The walls are painted in white which is actually the basic rule for increasing the feeling of space into a small home. The plan of this beautiful looking loft is quite simple: it has one room plus kitchen which was ingeniously transformed into a cooking-living-working place, a hallway and a bathroom. Vivid colors are present throughout this small apartment, while obeying by the rules of aesthetics. A large red sofa is placed in the living room which also acts like a double bed when needed. Large windows allow unobstructed views of the green environment and also ensure a good natural ventilation. Even though this crib is really small, in the pictures below it seems that we are looking at a large, airy and spacious apartment. It sure got us fooled.- via Alvhem

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© Marcos Mendizabal

Architects: Rearquitectura / Antonio Menéndez Ferrer – Cristian Barrientos Vera
Location: Cerro Yungay, Valparaiso, Chile
Client: Inmobiliaria Rearquitectura Ltda.
Contractor: JMC Constructora Limitada
Structure Engineer: Jorge Dadhal Casas-Cordero.
MEP: H.A.O. Ingeniería.
Site Area: 400 sqm
Project Area: 1,350 sqm
Project Year: 2008–2009
Photographs: Marcos Mendizabal

Lofts Yungay II is a collective housing building located in the outskirts of the World Heritage Area of Valparaíso, Chile. This city is one of the largest Chilean ports in the Pacific Ocean. Valparaiso’s landscape is very characteristic due to its many hills packed with colorful houses almost falling out of the cliffs. Each house is different from one another, but together they create a harmonic landscape.

location plan

The project’s lot is located in a hill side with a strong slope in both north-south and east-west directions. The site has two main facades; the east façade faces the street at the top of the hill, mean while the west façade faces a steep cliff.

© Marcos Mendizabal

The project was intended to blend into this urban landscape characterized by the combination of small colorful houses dispersed throughout the steep hillside. The building required to house 20 units, and thus its volume was much larger than the neighboring houses and would require a heavy intervention of the hill’s geography. This would destroy the scale and geography of this urban landscape.

To blend, the project required a smaller scale, and required to adapt into the geography. For this reason the building was fragmented into a series of smaller volumes. Each of these volumes is an individual unit, and has an individual color. They are placed at different altitudes following the slope of the hill, and thus, adapting the building into its geography. On the rear façade the units are slightly turned accentuating the idea of a combination of smaller units instead of a sole large volume. On the main façade, the volumes are aligned respecting the continuous façade of the street.

© Marcos Mendizabal

Certain construction elements that are present in the surrounding historical buildings, such as the small-wave galvanized coating and the tall wooden windows, were used in the facades. These were combined with new elements such as the double height windows and the perforated steel sheets of the parking lot gates. Together, these old and new elements mix into a contemporary façade with a strong local identity.

In the interior, the building is structured with a north-south axis containing three levels of corridors. Each one of these corridors has a series of short ladders that reflect how the building adapts to the slope of the site. The up most corridor has a succession of skylights separated from each other by colorful volumes, allowing the natural illumination of this area.

© Marcos Mendizabal

The building contains 20 lofts. The corridor at level -1 leads to the storerooms and to 6 two-story units, each one with a small garden overlooking the cliff. The street level contains the parking lots and 3 one story lofts. Finally, on level +1 are the entrances to 11 three-story lofts, each one with a roof-top terrace and a wide view towards the ocean.

© Marcos Mendizabal

Architects: Rearquitectura / Antonio Menéndez Ferrer – Cristian Barrientos Vera
Location: Cerro Yungay, Valparaiso, Chile
Client: Inmobiliaria Rearquitectura Ltda.
Contractor: JMC Constructora Limitada
Structure Engineer: Jorge Dadhal Casas-Cordero.
MEP: H.A.O. Ingeniería.
Site Area: 400 sqm
Project Area: 1,350 sqm
Project Year: 2008–2009
Photographs: Marcos Mendizabal

Lofts Yungay II is a collective housing building located in the outskirts of the World Heritage Area of Valparaíso, Chile. This city is one of the largest Chilean ports in the Pacific Ocean. Valparaiso’s landscape is very characteristic due to its many hills packed with colorful houses almost falling out of the cliffs. Each house is different from one another, but together they create a harmonic landscape.

location plan

The project’s lot is located in a hill side with a strong slope in both north-south and east-west directions. The site has two main facades; the east façade faces the street at the top of the hill, mean while the west façade faces a steep cliff.

© Marcos Mendizabal

The project was intended to blend into this urban landscape characterized by the combination of small colorful houses dispersed throughout the steep hillside. The building required to house 20 units, and thus its volume was much larger than the neighboring houses and would require a heavy intervention of the hill’s geography. This would destroy the scale and geography of this urban landscape.

To blend, the project required a smaller scale, and required to adapt into the geography. For this reason the building was fragmented into a series of smaller volumes. Each of these volumes is an individual unit, and has an individual color. They are placed at different altitudes following the slope of the hill, and thus, adapting the building into its geography. On the rear façade the units are slightly turned accentuating the idea of a combination of smaller units instead of a sole large volume. On the main façade, the volumes are aligned respecting the continuous façade of the street.

© Marcos Mendizabal

Certain construction elements that are present in the surrounding historical buildings, such as the small-wave galvanized coating and the tall wooden windows, were used in the facades. These were combined with new elements such as the double height windows and the perforated steel sheets of the parking lot gates. Together, these old and new elements mix into a contemporary façade with a strong local identity.

In the interior, the building is structured with a north-south axis containing three levels of corridors. Each one of these corridors has a series of short ladders that reflect how the building adapts to the slope of the site. The up most corridor has a succession of skylights separated from each other by colorful volumes, allowing the natural illumination of this area.

© Marcos Mendizabal

The building contains 20 lofts. The corridor at level -1 leads to the storerooms and to 6 two-story units, each one with a small garden overlooking the cliff. The street level contains the parking lots and 3 one story lofts. Finally, on level +1 are the entrances to 11 three-story lofts, each one with a roof-top terrace and a wide view towards the ocean.

© Kaj Lergaard

Architects: CEBRA
Location: Denmark
Builder: M2 A/S
Project Area: 164 sqm
Project Year: 2007
Photographs: Kaj Lergaard

By using the “pleated facades” (giving name to the house) the Sinus_House is meant to combine the wish of having large glass areas and view with the wish of privacy.

diagram 01

diagram 02

The concave cuttings in the long side of the wing house function as large reflectors of light, and irrespective of the position of the sun in relation to the house they secure that daylight is being let into the house – either directly through the large glass areas or reflected by the white surfaces opposite the glass areas. Even when the sunlight falls longitudinally on the façade the home will be filled with warm light.

diagram 03

diagram 04

Moreover the white cuttings function as shielded terraces. In this place, which is connected to the family room or sitting room, you can sit peacefully and sheltered, weather permitting. As there are cuttings on both sides of the house you are free to choose between sun or shadow.

Arrangement

© Kaj Lergaard

The rooms inside the house are arranged as independent boxes which together form a central area for common stay: kitchen, family room and sitting room. The bedroom with its own bathroom and toilet is one independent unit. Opposite the bedroom the two rooms are placed end to end. Between the rooms there is a recess, which can be used by children or adults as you prefer, or it can be used as a third room. Placed on each side of the entrance hall you find utility room and guest toilet. Above this there is a room in the attic for storage. There is direct access to either utility room or entrance hall from the integrated carport with place for 2 cars. There is a tool shed in connection with the carport.

Materials

© Kaj Lergaard

The house appears as a dark mass with white pleatings or cuttings – it almost corresponds to cutting a piece of an apple. The dark surfaces of the house consist of a roof covered with fillets and felt and glossy walls of anthracite grey bricks and dark joints. The white cuttings are covered by plaster and painted. All window frames in the dark areas are black, whereas they are white in the cuttings. Inside the house all ceilings and walls have a smooth, white finish. All rooms have wooden floors, except for wet rooms and weather porch, where tiles are more obvious. Kitchen arrangement, sanitary appliances and white goods are to be designed and selected together with the builder of the house.

© Kaj Lergaard

Architects: CEBRA
Location: Denmark
Builder: M2 A/S
Project Area: 164 sqm
Project Year: 2007
Photographs: Kaj Lergaard

By using the “pleated facades” (giving name to the house) the Sinus_House is meant to combine the wish of having large glass areas and view with the wish of privacy.

diagram 01

diagram 02

The concave cuttings in the long side of the wing house function as large reflectors of light, and irrespective of the position of the sun in relation to the house they secure that daylight is being let into the house – either directly through the large glass areas or reflected by the white surfaces opposite the glass areas. Even when the sunlight falls longitudinally on the façade the home will be filled with warm light.

diagram 03

diagram 04

Moreover the white cuttings function as shielded terraces. In this place, which is connected to the family room or sitting room, you can sit peacefully and sheltered, weather permitting. As there are cuttings on both sides of the house you are free to choose between sun or shadow.

Arrangement

© Kaj Lergaard

The rooms inside the house are arranged as independent boxes which together form a central area for common stay: kitchen, family room and sitting room. The bedroom with its own bathroom and toilet is one independent unit. Opposite the bedroom the two rooms are placed end to end. Between the rooms there is a recess, which can be used by children or adults as you prefer, or it can be used as a third room. Placed on each side of the entrance hall you find utility room and guest toilet. Above this there is a room in the attic for storage. There is direct access to either utility room or entrance hall from the integrated carport with place for 2 cars. There is a tool shed in connection with the carport.

Materials

© Kaj Lergaard

The house appears as a dark mass with white pleatings or cuttings – it almost corresponds to cutting a piece of an apple. The dark surfaces of the house consist of a roof covered with fillets and felt and glossy walls of anthracite grey bricks and dark joints. The white cuttings are covered by plaster and painted. All window frames in the dark areas are black, whereas they are white in the cuttings. Inside the house all ceilings and walls have a smooth, white finish. All rooms have wooden floors, except for wet rooms and weather porch, where tiles are more obvious. Kitchen arrangement, sanitary appliances and white goods are to be designed and selected together with the builder of the house.

© adn Architectures

Architects: adn Architectures
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Project Team: David Henquinet, Nicolas Iacobellis, Didier Vander Heyden
Floor area: 100 sqm
Project Year: 2008-2009
Photographs: adn Architectures

floor plan

The challenge was to furnish a 100 sqm space “casco” in a spirit “loft” , within a tiny budget. In order to preserve crossing spaces and to bring depth into the views, the idea was simple: to insert all the technical and functional elements in a piece of furniture, placed itself all along the side wall. Then, we put a central volume (bathroom) in the middle of the loft. To this one are grafted a designed furniture (as a Hi-Fi corner in the living room, a desk and a library) which induces separation between two distinct spaces (bedroom on one side, office/guest room on the other).

© adn Architectures

© adn Architectures

There is also a concept of modularity via a large sliding door over all the width of the apartment, making it possible to close and open spaces. As conclusion, the room is raised by a estrade, which confers to him its own space statute in relation with the other places of the loft. Thinking at the economy, grounds and ceilings are left rough as such without any modification. The will is to offer an installation of furniture which organize the space. This space wants to be sober, purified, emphasized by specific keys of color and the texture of the existing ground.

Based in Germany, Studio Aisslinger’s new housing prototype is modular, sustainable and transportable.  The low energy house, named ‘Fincube’,  is comprised of thin horizontal “ledges” of locally grown wood that wrap the slightly bulging form.  This second facade layer provides privacy for the inhabitants and fuses the man-made structure with its natural surroundings.   The home provides 47 sqm of living space with a minimal CO2 footprint,  and can also be easily dismantled and rebuilt on a different site.  The supporting structure is made of local larch and the interior is a combination of larch and stone-pine.  Organized in a helical structure, the entrance area blends into a generous open kitchen with an adjacent living space, and around the corner rests the bedroom.

More images after the break.

As seen on designboom.

© adn Architectures

Architects: adn Architectures
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Project Team: David Henquinet, Nicolas Iacobellis, Didier Vander Heyden
Floor area: 100 sqm
Project Year: 2008-2009
Photographs: adn Architectures

floor plan

The challenge was to furnish a 100 sqm space “casco” in a spirit “loft” , within a tiny budget. In order to preserve crossing spaces and to bring depth into the views, the idea was simple: to insert all the technical and functional elements in a piece of furniture, placed itself all along the side wall. Then, we put a central volume (bathroom) in the middle of the loft. To this one are grafted a designed furniture (as a Hi-Fi corner in the living room, a desk and a library) which induces separation between two distinct spaces (bedroom on one side, office/guest room on the other).

© adn Architectures

© adn Architectures

There is also a concept of modularity via a large sliding door over all the width of the apartment, making it possible to close and open spaces. As conclusion, the room is raised by a estrade, which confers to him its own space statute in relation with the other places of the loft. Thinking at the economy, grounds and ceilings are left rough as such without any modification. The will is to offer an installation of furniture which organize the space. This space wants to be sober, purified, emphasized by specific keys of color and the texture of the existing ground.

Based in Germany, Studio Aisslinger’s new housing prototype is modular, sustainable and transportable.  The low energy house, named ‘Fincube’,  is comprised of thin horizontal “ledges” of locally grown wood that wrap the slightly bulging form.  This second facade layer provides privacy for the inhabitants and fuses the man-made structure with its natural surroundings.   The home provides 47 sqm of living space with a minimal CO2 footprint,  and can also be easily dismantled and rebuilt on a different site.  The supporting structure is made of local larch and the interior is a combination of larch and stone-pine.  Organized in a helical structure, the entrance area blends into a generous open kitchen with an adjacent living space, and around the corner rests the bedroom.

More images after the break.

As seen on designboom.

© Leonardo Finotti

Architects: Estudio Aire / Juan German Guardati, Roman Renzi, Virginia Kahanoff
Location: Funes, Santa Fé, Argentina
Collaborators: Gustavo Sattler, Matias Agostino, Maximiliano Rossini, Damian Plouganou
Project Area: 235 sqm
Project Year: 2004-2007
Photographs: Leonardo Finotti

The project was developed between personal wills and external demands. We enjoy  narrating this process without too much  theory but with architectural responsibility  and enthusiasm instead.

During the first meetings we tried to talk with our clients about architecture itself not specifically a home project. We realised it was our opportunity to develop something different between both parties. We were very enthusiastic for we could  have the possibility of reviewing our architectural repertoire. At the beginning there were no specific orders, which arrived as time passed by and started working together.

floor plan

We had  feeling to work as a team , sometimes sharing some points of view concerning  design, some others not.

Our clients were much concerned with the issue of privacy and intimacy as regards life in private neighborhoods such as Kentucky, so we considered it important to be able to appreciate from the inside the decisions taken (morphology, geometry, materials, how to manipulate the natural lighting) rather than the criteria used in such spaces so far.

© Leonardo Finotti

We started working on a criteria based on a central open space . Little by little it became  more radical and the rest of the situations began to subordinate to the yard. We were questioning the modern language leading elements to an almost  primitive instance .The concept of continuous space extends beyond the physical limit of covered surface. The Interior unroofed surface regulates the link with the outside world. One of the faces is an opening with two glass doors. Opening completely enabling to redefine the concept of externality and integrating  the rest of the area.

The water here incorporates the built mass reflexes. The House becomes its own landscape.  Fragmentation in the section cover is another particular moment of thought and analysis which occurs  not only to  fill the interior of light but to establish a link with nature, incorporating the sky.

© Leonardo Finotti

In general we usually describe our work as a box with a yard inside it denoting a formal will at first place.

However the best is inside,  the richer inner space as a result of it .

With two photographs from outside the story would be resolved, but it would be impossible from the  inside.

The strongest effort was to decide about what not to be done or how to make it simpler .

section 01

We came to only four materials. On top  “white” dominates all items, aluminum resolves openings to the inner patio , the metal for the perimeter gates and glass for transparent and translucent cladding. This reduction is the reaction to a need to avoid excessive thinking of achieving simplicity as a concept.

We are satisfied for having being able to provide a contemporary answer leaving aside modern language. Now that the work has been completed we have began to look in time to more distant  examples of it. The colonial House is the first example that appeared. The potential of the yard, the opening  toit,  the gallery, tectonics condition, force walls, the dispossession of ornamentation, the height of the Interior. We are now studying the pompeyana House , which carry this same situations to a more primitive and radical state .  All this working under the concept of modern space.

© Leonardo Finotti

We believe that the contemporary does not have to do with a completely new production or with an indiscriminate repetition of recipes. We are interested in reviewing everything that has already been produced and intervene as little as possible. We have very clear it  is almost ridiculous since our activity lies in filling free spaces . This paradox is which obsessively leads us to focus on the space resulting of it through the manipulation of shapes. We love thinking  that we produce air.