Description of project by HARQUITECTES
On a plot without salient features, the project took as starting point the restrictions marked by the geotechnical study, which showed that the first meters underground had a low resistance capacity. To avoid a deep foundation, not recommendable for both economic and environmental reasons, it was necessary to reanalyze the organization of the house and its building systems. The design called for a very light construction, or else one that would evenly distribute the loads to the ground. The light construction option was discarded because it was considered important to gain interior thermal inertia for a better passive behaviour.
The first decision was to build a house on ground level in order to distribute the weight of the building. The second, to use decking to convey the load of the pavements and use directly to the ground. The third, to use a linear structural system organized in a grid to fully and proportionally distribute loads of the roof to the ground. In sum: taking the project to the limit, adjusting to the maximum and overloading the terrain to an extreme to achieve the heaviest house possible with the màximum mass (inertia) the terrain could take.
The volume freed up below the deck was filled with a thick layer of gravel, creating a thermal collector with a high inertia that pretreats the air renewal of the house. In the design process, any problem was treated as an opportunity that could be taken as an advantage to improve the project. The program is distributed in ten equal spaces of 3.5 x 5.12 meters. The versatility of these 18 square meters and the generous relationships between them offers, surprisingly, great freedom and allows imagining that the house can be used in very different ways over the years, creating rooms that can be independent or used as a single space.
The architecture pursued was one that responds to the minimum and basic needs, avoiding superfluous elements, but that allows at the same time a maximum potential of uses. The house is just an infrastructure where the users can choose the best way to make it their own. The solar protection reproduces the interior grid with a vegetal protection organized like small chapels, creating a threshold that will prevent the summer sun from overheating the house, minimizing the visual impact of the construction, which will blend with the garden. House and garden would want to be one same thing, to live using the whole plot.
A house almost naked. Looking for maximum functionality, structural and programmatic, is the basis of this housing project built in the municipality of Palau-solità i Plegamans, near Barcelona.
The architecture studio HARQUITECTES has been characterized in recent years by an architecture that dialogues very directly with materials, with few intermediate elements between the user and the construction. They uses the materials with great honesty, elevating some of them commonly considered poor, to the category of nobles.
The architecture pursued was one that responds to the minimum and basic needs, avoiding superfluous elements, but that allows at the same time a maximum potential of uses. The house is just an infrastructure where the users can choose the best way to make it their own.
More information
Harquitectes is an architecture practice founded in Sabadell in 2000 by David Lorente Ibáñez (born in Granollers, Barcelona, June 7, 1972), architect, ETSAV-UPC, 2000; Josep Ricart Ulldemolins (born in Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, 1973), architect, ETSAV-UPC, 1999; Xavier Ros Majó (born in Sabadell, Barcelona, 1972), architect, ETSAV-UPC, 1998; and Roger Tudó Galí (born in Terrassa, Barcelona, 1973), architect, ETSAV-UPC, 1999.
They combine their professional practice with teaching at the Faculty of Architecture of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (ETSAV and ETSAB), as well as at ETH Zurich. and at Harvard GSD.
Among their most representative works are the ICTA-ICP research center at the Autonomous University of Barcelona; the Cristalleries Planell civic center; the Lleialtat Santsenca cultural center; social housing for IMPSOL in Gavà; the new offices for Galenicum; the Clos Pachem winery in El Priorat; and El Vapor Cortès de Prodis in Terrassa. Currently, the studio is working on the expansion of the MACBA museum, the renovation of the Teatre Arnau, the La Teixonera civic center in Vall d’Hebron, as well as the Ideal Flor cultural center and the transformation of La Foneria Reial, all in Barcelona.
Their work has been widely published and exhibited, and he has received numerous awards, including the FAD, the European Prize for Intervention in Architectural Heritage, the City of Barcelona Prize, the Erich Mendelsohn Award, the Berlin Art Prize and the CSCAE Architecture Prize, among others.
Awards.-
2025.- Re-FAD Award 2025.
2025.- Casa de la Arquitectura Award Cohesion category.
2024.- Bonaplata Award, 2024.
2018.- Prize "Detail Prize 2018"
2018.- Prize "XII Premios NAN"
2018.- Prize "XIV BEAU" Bienal Española de Arquitectura y Urbanismo.
2018.- Prize "Ciudad de Barcelona 2017"
2018.- Prize ex aequo de "Arquitectura de Ladrillo Hispalyt XIV."
2017.- Prize "Mapei a la edificación sostenible."
2017.- Prize "BB Construmat 2017."
2017.- Prize AD 2017 Architects of the year.
2016.- Prize "Mostra Arquitectura Vallès."
2016.- Prize "Wienerberger Brick Award 2016."
2016.- Prize "X BIAU" Bienal Iberoamericana de Arquitectura y Urbanismo.
2016.- Prize "XIII BEAU" Biennal Espanyola d’Arquitectura i Urbanisme.
2016.- Prize Arquitectura de Ladrillo Hispalyt XIII Edició.
2016.- Prize "Catalunya Construcció" 2016.
2015.- Prize "Ugo Rivolta" 2015.
2015.- Prize FAD de la opinión 2015.
2015.- Prize "Catalunya Construcció" 2015.
2014.- Prize "Archmarathon" 2014.
2014.- Prize Arquitectura de Cerámica ‘"Fritz Höger Preis" housing category Winner Gold
2013.- 1st Prize A+to Best Projects Sustainable Architecture.
2013.- Prize A+ Extraordinario al Estudio Joven más Prometedor.
2012.- Sacyr Innovación Award for ICTA-ICP Building 1102.
2012.- AJAC 2012 Award for university dwellings in Sant Cugat dle Vallès.
2012.- Hise 2012 excelencia a la innovación Award, for 712 house.
2012.- FAD 2012 Award, 712 house.
2011.- ENOR Arquitectura Joven Award for 704 Gimnasium.
Published on:
January 17, 2018
Cite:
"A brick house without corridors. House 1219 by HARQUITECTES " METALOCUS.
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