s a n t i v i l a | a r q u i t e c t e . photos: © Ariadna González
The house is located in a newly grown residential estate in the southeast of Llagostera village (Girona), where there were cork oak forests.
The intention of the project was to create a functional design, as compact as possible, efficiently and variable with the changing life situations. We wanted to gather the concepts of urban memory, modern tradition and sustainable sensibility by giving them shape and contents. Simultaneously, we wanted to offer maximum versatility, to ensure maximum durability and to have minimal maintenance. All these led us to solve the structural and constructive system with clearance, simplicity and compact volumes.
The proposal intends to be a realistic, respectful, economic and energetically efficient option with bioclimatic mechanisms which define the spaces, relating selectively the domestic scale with the existing landscape.
The spatial program is organized in three levels, with two longitudinal walls of 3 m high where a prism of 9 x 8 x 9 m is supported and located in the center of the plot. The extension of the concrete walls, a roof to the south, and a courtyard to the north allow us to make the most of the sunshine light and control the views, giving complexity to the outside.
All day time activities are distributed on the ground floor whereas the night area is on the first floor. On a reduced second, floor, there are spaces that will be defined in the future, which could be modified and extended by a light wall. This level includes a terrace which gives magnificent landscape views above the other houses in the area. The bathroom, kitchen and laundry rooms are placed on the façade to free the interior from structural easements and installations.
The structure, which takes on great importance for spatial organization, is a concrete box, which is sometimes left as an exterior or interior finish. The construction is focused on the continuity of the spaces. The excavation of the foundation is used to slightly raise the level of the ground floor.
The materials are few, naturals, basics, with long durability and with practically little or no demand in terms of maintenance. The detail is reduced to its function. In contrast to the concrete, the rest of the materials are cork and wood. All building materials remain visible. The result is an enclosure with good thermal inertia and without thermal bridges.
Sustainability and eco-efficiency criteria is sought with the minimum consumed resources cost and the lowest possible generated waste. This is achieved mainly through different passive systems as orientation, passive solar leverage, excellent insulation, use of materials with little environmental impact, use of solar energy to produce domestic hot water, cross ventilation in each plant and vertically, and openings external protection to solar control as well as improving the climatic comfort.
We have used dry construction for interior partitions in order to obtain greater versatility and to avoid a construction with a high level of waste.
The building has a class A energy rating, with a primary energy consumption of 47 kWh / m2 per year and carbon dioxide emissions of 9 KgC2 / m2 per year.
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location Llagostera (Girona)
architect Santi Vila
Cort Reial 13.1 Girona
collaborators Blázquez Guanter architects, structure calculation Iñaki González de Mendiguchi, quantity surveyor
contractor Fivaller sl
author photographs Ariadna González
plot 467.00 m2
usable area 152.30 m2
built area 199.20 m2
materials cork, concrete ,wood
energy rating A
primary energy consumption 47 kwh / m2year heating demand 28 kwh / m2year carbon dioxide emissions 9 kgCO2 / m2any start and end of project 11.2015 and 6.2016 start and end of work 1.2018 and 3.2019
