Tiptoeing on the hillside. House in red by estudio_entresitio
18/05/2023.
[Calas de Guisando - Ávila] Spain
metalocus, ANDRÉS BLANCO
metalocus, ANDRÉS BLANCO
Madrid-based architecture practice, estudio_entresitio, has been commissioned to design this single-family home in a privileged setting located in the Calas de Guisando urbanization, near the Alberche river, in the foothills of the San Juan reservoir, in Avila, Spain.
The housing project rests on the natural topography of the plot, with a steep slope, proposing an architecture called "palafitic" by the authors, trying to be respectful of the existing pine landscape, proposing a highly articulated architecture.
The project is one of the 21 selected in the 2023 CSCAE Architecture Awards.
The housing project rests on the natural topography of the plot, with a steep slope, proposing an architecture called "palafitic" by the authors, trying to be respectful of the existing pine landscape, proposing a highly articulated architecture.
The project is one of the 21 selected in the 2023 CSCAE Architecture Awards.
House in red by estudio_entresitio. Photograph by Roland Halbe.
House in red by estudio_entresitio. Photograph by Roland Halbe.
House in red by estudio_entresitio. Photograph by Roland Halbe.
House in red by estudio_entresitio. Photograph by Roland Halbe.
House in red by estudio_entresitio. Photograph by Roland Halbe.
House in red by estudio_entresitio. Photograph by Roland Halbe.
House in red by estudio_entresitio. Photograph by Roland Halbe.
House in red by estudio_entresitio. Photograph by Roland Halbe.
House in red by estudio_entresitio. Photograph by Roland Halbe.
House in red by estudio_entresitio. Photograph by Roland Halbe.
House in red by estudio_entresitio. Photograph by Roland Halbe.
House in red by estudio_entresitio. Photograph by Roland Halbe.
House in red by estudio_entresitio. Photograph by Roland Halbe.
House in red by estudio_entresitio. Photograph by Roland Halbe.
House in red by estudio_entresitio. Photograph by Roland Halbe.
House in red by estudio_entresitio. Photograph by Roland Halbe.
House in red by estudio_entresitio. Photograph by Roland Halbe.
House in red by estudio_entresitio. Photograph by Roland Halbe.
House in red by estudio_entresitio. Photograph by estudio_entresitio.
House in red by estudio_entresitio. Photograph by estudio_entresitio.
House in red by estudio_entresitio. Photograph by estudio_entresitio.
House in red by estudio_entresitio. Photograph by estudio_entresitio.
House in red by estudio_entresitio. Photograph by estudio_entresitio.
House in red by estudio_entresitio. Photograph by estudio_entresitio.
House in red by estudio_entresitio. Photograph by Roland Halbe.
House in red by estudio_entresitio. Photograph by Roland Halbe.
House in red by estudio_entresitio. Photograph by Roland Halbe.
Site plan. House in red by estudio_entresitio.
Site. House in red by estudio_entresitio.
Roof plan. House in red by estudio_entresitio.
Children's floor plan. House in red by estudio_entresitio.
Parent floor plan. House in red by estudio_entresitio.
Dual floor plan. House in red by estudio_entresitio.
Living room floor plan. House in red by estudio_entresitio.
Side elevation. House in red by estudio_entresitio.
Side elevation. House in red by estudio_entresitio.
Elevation to swamp. House in red by estudio_entresitio.
Elevation. House in red by estudio_entresitio.
Facade drop-down. House in red by estudio_entresitio.
Facade drop-down. House in red by estudio_entresitio.
Facade modulation. House in red by estudio_entresitio.
Axonometric. House in red by estudio_entresitio.
Detached internal elevations. House in red by estudio_entresitio.
Detached internal elevations. House in red by estudio_entresitio.
Constructive details. House in red by estudio_entresitio.
Constructive details. House in red by estudio_entresitio.
Constructive details. House in red by estudio_entresitio.
Sketch. House in red by estudio_entresitio.
Sketch. House in red by estudio_entresitio.
Model. House in red by estudio_entresitio.
Model. House in red by estudio_entresitio.
Model. House in red by estudio_entresitio.
estudio_entresitio proposal has access in the upper part of the plot, unfolding the house towards the lower part of a plot with a difference in level, up to the sheet of water in the swamp, of about 20 meters. The program of the project is intertwined with the pine forest on three levels that differentiates the area for parents, the common areas, and those dedicated to children.
The tours also have three possible alternatives: the exterior through stairs and decks that access each of the platforms, drawing the silhouette of the house. A second is an access through the upper floor, to go inside the house, and a third that allows you to cross the house transversely taking advantage of the fact that it is detached from the ground.
The house is wrapped in a continuous skin of red-painted wood from which it gets its name. The construction is carried out using cross-laminated boards (CLT), lined in turn with wood, with supports made of steel micro piles. With a work carried out dry, with a high energy efficiency rating.
House in red by estudio_entresitio. Photograph by Roland Halbe.The tours also have three possible alternatives: the exterior through stairs and decks that access each of the platforms, drawing the silhouette of the house. A second is an access through the upper floor, to go inside the house, and a third that allows you to cross the house transversely taking advantage of the fact that it is detached from the ground.
The house is wrapped in a continuous skin of red-painted wood from which it gets its name. The construction is carried out using cross-laminated boards (CLT), lined in turn with wood, with supports made of steel micro piles. With a work carried out dry, with a high energy efficiency rating.
House in red by estudio_entresitio. Photograph by Roland Halbe.
Project description by estudio_entresitio
The project is located in Calas de Guisando, Cebreros, Ávila. A high degree of protection is applied to the parcel due to the ecological value of the swamp and its surrounding vegetation. The house in red arises from a clear intention to respect the landscape, the natural topography, and the existing vegetation, proposing a non-invasive architecture.
This architecture is governed by some key principles based on conserving the atmosphere of the original pine forest, trying to keep as many trees as possible so that the essence of the place, wild and natural, endures. This is how the idea of responding with palafittic architecture arose, on stilts driven into the ground, barely touching the ground. This architectural intention goes hand in hand with the pronounced topography of the plot, the access from its upper part and the height restrictions with respect to the original relief. In this way, upon arrival, the house is below, following the natural topography as if it were levitating above the ground. The difference in level between the access level of the plot and the water level of the reservoir is approximately 20 meters.
The relationship that this house establishes with the environment is one of permeability and potentiation, intertwining with the pine forest. The floor plan of the house is thus the direct consequence of two issues: the development of the program and full respect for the topography and the existing trees, growing and shortening between them. The connection between the entrance level and the access to the water is graduated in three intermediate levels in which the different members of the family find their private spaces that are easily connected both with the exterior and with the public space of the living room and the kitchen, located like a navel, between the level of the parents and that of the children.
House in red by estudio_entresitio. Photograph by Roland Halbe.
The circulations of the house are divided into three ways going through it or inhabiting it. One of them would start at street level, always going outside, through the roofs, with entrances on each platform and external stairs that connect the different platforms. An element that runs along this path drawing the silhouette of the house is the railing, almost imperceptible in the distance. Another way of going through it would begin by entering the house on the upper floor, where there are two stairs, just below the exterior ones, and which always go through the house from the inside.
Finally, there is another route that resides in the natural movement of the terrain, since as it is a house that levitates above the ground, it is possible to cross transversely through the exterior at certain points of the plan and access the level at others.
There are different appreciations of the geometry of the house. Working on a matrix with an orthogonal base, the project concatenates volumes of similar sizes at different heights. These volumes or boxes are read as such only from the exterior front, from the water. When the vision is foreshortened, the rigor of the volumes blurs. As you change from one level to another, you go from front views to side views thanks to the windows that run along the stairs.
House in red by estudio_entresitio. Photograph by Roland Halbe.
Spatially speaking, from the inside the rooms or air cells are connected to each other producing unexpected visions. This idea is reinforced by the decomposition of the boxes with the color planes. The result is an amalgamation in which the geometry is not clearly recognized.
In this house it is not possible to speak of four facades organized according to the orientation to the cardinal points; the resulting volume acquires quality thanks to its skin, which as such, envelops and protects the house. It is a continuous skin of red-painted wood that becomes permeable to capture light and vision when needed.
The construction of the different levels of the house is carried out using cross-laminated boards (CLT), as we have already said, lined with wood. The roof of each level is level with the floor of the previous one, that is, the same plane becomes the roof and the floor. The choice of this construction system is partly due to the idea of keeping nature as intact as possible; carrying out a dry work that did not have a large carbon footprint. This approach to sustainable housing has made it possible to achieve the highest energy efficiency rating.
More information
Architects
estudio.entresitio. Lead architects.- Maria Hurtado de Mendoza, Cesar Jimenez De Tejada, Alvar Ruiz.
Design team
Borja Requena, Eduardo Blanes, Adriana Pablos, Peio Erroteta, Carlotta Albini, Carlos Díaz del Río, Vittorio Asperti, María Urigoitia.
Collaborators
Structures.- Ignacio Aspe.
CLT.- Altermatria.
Energy efficiency.- Manuel Rodríguez.
Lighting consultant.- Ignacio Valero: Arkilum.
Landscaping and gardening.- Landscape Plant.
CLT.- Altermatria.
Energy efficiency.- Manuel Rodríguez.
Lighting consultant.- Ignacio Valero: Arkilum.
Landscaping and gardening.- Landscape Plant.
Area
345,45 m².
Dates
Completion date of the work.- 03-07-03-2022.
Location
c/ Manuel de Falla 36, Calas de Guisando, Ávila, Cebreros, España Spain.
Photography
Roland Halbe.
María Hurtado de Mendoza Wahrolén, César Jiménez de Tejada Benavides. estudio_entresitio
estudio.entresitio is a Madrid-NY base practice, founded by María Hurtado de Mendoza Wahrolén and César Jiménez de Tejada Benavides that is invested in the material actualization of the architectural concept. The practice has extensive building experience with an emphasis on public work that utilizes novel solutions to the functional and necessary without sacrificing the creative or exploratory.
An international award-winning firm was selected in 2007 as Design Vanguard by Architectural Record helping its work to be published and seen in many countries. Entresitio’s constructed work has received more than 30 awards and honourable mentions. The firm participated in the 10th and 11th Spanish Biennial, the 7th BIAU (Iberoamerican Biennial of Architecture and Urbanism), twice in the Venice Biennale (2000 and 2006), the Barbara Cappochin Biennale 2011 and more, and received the ArchDaily “Building of the Year 2012” in the health care category, for its healthcare centres trilogy of San Blas+Usera+Villaverde, Madrid.
Maria and César worked together since 1993, Jose Maria joined them in 2003 after 4 years of working for Rafael Moneo and Alvar entered the studio in 2007.
Both Maria and César teach architectural design on regular basis, César at the Madrid School of Architecture (ETSAM) and Maria in the US, currently at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) after a couple of semesters at Cornell University.
