ARQUITECTURA-G . photos: © José Hevia
The operation starts with a previous research process addressed to choose the proper location for the house of a trumpeter and a Japanese astrophysical engineer, who are based in the city of Barcelona. Each location that was analyzed gave us the clues of how to respond to their needs that were eventually taken into account for the final proposal.
We face, once again, a typical typology of the XIX century urban plan of Barcelona, where the apartment plan is organized by two large spaces at the ends and a central zone of elongated proportions that connects them.Taking advantage of a 2.80m height, we propose to divide the apartment into two levels following the longitudinal direction and emphasizing this way its linear character. This gesture will result in two parallel environments that will generate themselves both spaces and movement.
We distribute the space placing the living-room towards the main façade to the street, and at the opposite end the main bathroom, that being part of the natural circulation of the house, will work as a light filter coming through the back façade. At the second level, a sequence of diverse but connected uses –in order: library, dinning, kitchen, office, storage and bedroom with dressing area-, and at the intersection of the platforms, two-sided furniture pieces will provide the functional requirements of the house.
Finally, two objects stand out of this “limit”, anchored as ball joints in the midpoints of the main spaces. They consist of big pots that allow us to introduce vegetation inside, but most important, to visually connect both ends through the repetition of a singular element.
The proposal is reinforced by using two materials, one for each level, a pavement of large-format white tiles in the lower area, and wood in the upper part. The vertical elements are covered with stainless steel generating reflections and increasing the presence of natural light inside the house. In addition, the requirement of a soundproof study is used to introduce a softer and warmer character through materiality, performing in opposition to steel.
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