SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE RENOVATION IN MONTCADA
Renovation of a ground floor family house located between two party walls. The living area are connected to the new patio, situated in the back of the plot, providing a maximum of intimacy and an optimal light situation. The strategic approach lies in the distinctive corridor which connects the
entrance and living area through a curved shape.
The house is located in and old working-class neighbourhood in a city close to
Barcelona. All the existing houses are from the first quarter of the 20yh century. This buildings respond to the typical typology of a grounf floor house in a rectangular plot with a 4-5m wide and 10-15m length and a patio at the back of the house.
the facades are very simple and build with very basic materials.
Normally they always have only two openings, one for the main entrance and the other can be a window or the parking door.
The original building was also a house. Was built in 1925 and at the 60’s they refurbished to create a two-bedroom ground floor house. None of the bedrooms had a window.
Renovation of a ground floor family house located between two party walls. The living area are connected to the new patio, situated in the back of the plot, providing a maximum of intimacy and an optimal light situation.
The strategic approach lies in the distinctive corridor which connects the entrance and living area through a curved shape.
While normally the movement through this typology house is linear and monotonous, the presence of this curve volume generates a dynamic movement, accompanying and leading through the space.
Usually all the projects resolve this issue with a long linear corridor and we didn’t want it, we wanted to avoid the linear visuals. We thought in the movement and sensation that everyone have when gets into Richard Serra work's.
The opening of the room-high doors enlarges the field of view and dissolves all spatial borders, developing a continuous space.
The composition of the facade is based on three rectangular apertures. A ceramic lattice, which covers
two of them, benefits the privacy. The third one, the main door, is covered in the same pattern in order to support the impression of symmetry.
The materiality is based on ceramic elements of the facade and the floor, standing in contrast with the neutral materiality of the varnished carpentry and furniture.
We like the neutral spaces. Also we decided to use white paint on walls and ceiling to create a contrast with the floor. However we make the decision to use a light grey for all the vertical curved volume, just below the curved ceiling, trying to prolong the continuity and the weight of the curve.
