Topo’s Shed. Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi
11/02/2020.
[MAD] Spain
metalocus, JOAN MARSET
metalocus, JOAN MARSET
Spanish architect Pia Mendaro Lamberri, has renovated a former warehouse for her friend, artist Clara Cebrian, in Madrid. Named ‘Topo’s Shed’, the new home/studio is 10 meters by 10 meters.
"Clara is an artist and does not like overly designed things. She wanted something ‘like Ron Weasley’s house’; something that could adapt to the needs that appear over time" said Pia Mendaro. "The project, therefore, had to provide a basis for life to happen and be ‘almost nothing’."
"Clara is an artist and does not like overly designed things. She wanted something ‘like Ron Weasley’s house’; something that could adapt to the needs that appear over time" said Pia Mendaro. "The project, therefore, had to provide a basis for life to happen and be ‘almost nothing’."
Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi. Photograph by Manuel Ocaña
Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi. Photograph by Manuel Ocaña
Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi. Photograph by Manuel Ocaña
Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi. Photograph by Manuel Ocaña
Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi. Photograph by Manuel Ocaña
Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi. Photograph by Manuel Ocaña
Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi. Photograph by Manuel Ocaña
Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi. Photograph by Manuel Ocaña
Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi. Photograph by Manuel Ocaña
Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi. Photograph by Manuel Ocaña
Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi. Photograph by Manuel Ocaña
Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi. Photograph by Manuel Ocaña
Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi. Photograph by Manuel Ocaña
Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi. Photograph by Manuel Ocaña
Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi. Photograph by Manuel Ocaña
Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi. Photograph by Manuel Ocaña
Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi. Photograph by Manuel Ocaña
Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi. Photograph by Manuel Ocaña
Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi. Photograph by Manuel Ocaña
Ground floor plan. Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi.
Sections. Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi.
Details. Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi.
Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi. Photograph by Manuel Ocaña
Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi. Photograph by Manuel Ocaña
Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi. Photograph by Manuel Ocaña
Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi. Photograph by Manuel Ocaña
Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi. Photograph by Manuel Ocaña
Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi. Photograph by Manuel Ocaña
Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi. Photograph by Manuel Ocaña
Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi. Photograph by Manuel Ocaña
Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi. Photograph by Manuel Ocaña
Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi. Photograph by Manuel Ocaña
Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi. Photograph by Manuel Ocaña
Work space and housing by Pia Mendaro Larramendi. Photograph by Manuel Ocaña
Pia Mendaro's project pays special attention to the existing space without changing it. After some proposals, the center of the project was the place where Clara would sleep: a very light, semi-hanging platform, which in turn supports a small elevation of the roof and allows the windows to be cleaned.
Project description by Pia Mendaro Larramendi
This is the house-studio of my friend Clara Cebrian. Clara is an artist and does not like overly designed things. She wanted something ‘like Ron Weasley’s house’; something that could adapt to the needs that appear over time.
The project, therefore, had to provide a basis for life to happen and be ‘almost nothing’.
We work on a 10x10m warehouse with a gable roof held by two steel rafters, a facade with two windows and a door. For ‘almost nothing’ to work as ‘almost anything’ it seemed that nothing should be very tied.
We were sure about three things: that the space must be understood as what it is - a square -, that we had to use a kitchen that Clara had bought for sale, and that the downspouts were where they were and were immovable.
We decided to make a ‘covert wall’; a front where we could place the kitchen (everyone always wants to be in the kitchen). The kitchen would become the useful protagonist of the space, and behind it, the bathroom and facilities would hide. The wall passes under the belt of the trusses, allowing the warehouse to be understood as it is, and prevents doors from opening directly over the space (especially the bathroom).
In the process of locating Clara’s sleeping place, we thought of making a wheeled bed, a cabin, a box with windows ... until we decided to detach ourselves from the ground. We thereby provide a horizon in the warehouse; a connection with the outside that we believe necessary for mental health. It ended up being the project’s highlight: a very light, semi-hanging platform, which in turn supports a small elevation of the roof. We designed this structure with Manuel Ocaña; 20mm steel rounds working on compression and suspension, and 8mm corrugated rods in tension. The platform accepts a maximum of 5 people on it, so we made a ladder with wheels that could hide: skinny habits.
More information
Arquitecta
Developer
Clara Cebrian
Builder
Fast&Furious Office
Area
Built area.- 100m²
Photography
Manuel Ocaña
Dates
2020
Pia Mendaro Larramendi
Pía Mendaro (Madrid, 1991) graduated as an architect at Superior Technical School of Architecture Madrid, ETSAM (2009-2016). She’s currently working freelance and is a member of Endemico, a young architecture studio. She’s impatient with architecture’s timing, hence designing (and self-producing) furniture and studying botany and gardening in the meantime. For the last three years she has completed various refurbishments in Madrid, designed the furniture for a children's library in Monterrey (Mexico), participated as a teacher assistant in studio class (Polytechnic School Madrid), and led the direction (and management) of Barbecho space, focused on useful design (2017-19). At present, Pia has several works and a PhD thesis in progress.
Architecture awards: Schindler Architecture Award 2013/2014 for mobility / accessibility solutions (2013). Obtaining Honors in the Final Degree Project, ETSAM (2016). Finalist of the Young Talent Architecture Award (YTAA) of the Mies van der Rohe Foundation, (2016). Others: Junior designer for The Architecture Gallery, TAG, Madrid (2017), participation in the collective exhibition Mujer, Objeto (“Woman, Object”), Madrid (2018).
Architecture awards: Schindler Architecture Award 2013/2014 for mobility / accessibility solutions (2013). Obtaining Honors in the Final Degree Project, ETSAM (2016). Finalist of the Young Talent Architecture Award (YTAA) of the Mies van der Rohe Foundation, (2016). Others: Junior designer for The Architecture Gallery, TAG, Madrid (2017), participation in the collective exhibition Mujer, Objeto (“Woman, Object”), Madrid (2018).
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