Between Courtyards_House

The design originates from the reformulation of the patio-house typology and the search of grouping the different rooms in a house into blocks according to their level of privacy, their hours of use, their temperature requirements and views (Fig. 1 Design Process). Between these blocks two essential spaces in a house were defined. The entrance hall which divides and communicates the public areas from the more private rooms; and the family room, an undefined space that congregates everyday family life.

Next to these spaces, several themed patios are proposed which appear to extend these spaces´ limits and use (Fig. 2 Initial Sketch Floor Plan). This way, the house is composed out of four blocks. Three of them are made of ventilated brickwork and a central one of two stories made of reinforced concrete, which articulates and defines the different patios, Entrance Hall and Family Room, giving direction to the house´s main access. The height of each block is ascending, in the places where more rooms are grouped, the volume rises in height and viceversa; looking to diminish the energy demands and gain in comfort (Fig. 3 Initial Sketch Volumes).

Volume A, has south orientation towards the street, and contains the service areas, kitchen and a future guest room. Volume B contains the living and dining room as one unique continuous space that opens up to the main backyard (north) and patio (south). In Volume C, the children´s dormitories and bathroom are located, west-oriented in search of the morning sun. Lastly, Volume D, is directed towards the best view (Andean Range), with the master bedroom in first floor and a studio-library in the second floor. In the front yard, a geometric loose figure is proposed that contains the service patio and defines the parking area and entrance.