Hortencia Mata House
This project considers that architecture is a physical fact, and agrees with what is manifested by Helio Piñón in his writing "project is to build" where he clarifies that at the time of building a project, one should not only refer to its constructive logic but also to its shape, that is, it is not only built with a technique that can guarantee material consistency and allows the permanence of the project, but also, the visual relationship between its elements which are in itself the essential objective of the project. Consequently, this is the reason why one can work with the manipulation of physical elements for both support and protection of external climatic agents and that in their arrangement make up the architectural space for the purpose of human habitat.
Therefore, for the house “Hortencia Mata” that is located on an atypical triangular piece of land in near the historic center of the city of Cuenca, we set out as a general purpose to explore and take advantage of the structural and expressive qualities of both steel and crafted brick which in this city has the name of “panelon”. This allowed us to think in depth about the project, solving and developing different spatial and formal aspects, such as the creation of
flexible spaces and continuous routes, as well as achieving through the materiality -in this case the brick - an expressive facade using adifferent configuration of patterns that make up its only facade.
Likewise, the spatial configuration of the house is directly related to the human body, to a scale that can be encompassed by the senses of the inhabitant, so that we can enhance their experiences and achieve relationships both inside and outside of the spaces.
Architecture makes sense when humans are in motion in spaces that are
expressed through the human activities that take place in it, such as resting,
cooking, eating, sleeping, etc… Taking in account all these considerations, this project has its own qualitative and not quantitative conditions, with a certain purpose, that is legible and understandable.
