b-ing Architecture
Detached house in Penedé
Casa MDN: NOOK Architects + Amomicasa
Barcelona based NOOK Architects were commissioned to design this environmentally-friendly house in the countryside, surrounded by forests and vineyards. The area has been re-populated over recent years thanks to a forward-thinking educational initiative. This young family wanted to completely rethink their lives and take advantage of the opportunities offered by the small town living and a slower pace of life. The following description was provided by NOOK Architects.
The owners wanted to leave the city and work remotely at a different pace, surrounded by family and nature. Their life project took into consideration both the educational model of the local schools and the construction of a wooden house with a minimal environmental impact. They wanted to prioritise the quality of the spaces over the amount of square meters. To do so, they purchased two land plots originally intended for terraced houses, with the idea of building one single home with three façades, more interior space and establishing greater distance from the neighbouring building.
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According to planning laws both plots had to be occupied with buildings. The project therefore consists of a main volume for the home, situated on the innermost plot, and an adjacent secondary volume for use as a garage, built with a view to consolidating and reinforcing the corner plot.
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The house is organised over three floors, although only the ground floor occupies the entire footprint of the building. The two upper floors have set back to form three tiered spaces, helping maximise the cross-ventilation with views from the ground floor to the mono-pitched roof. Inside, the house has been arranged in such a way that, the higher up in the house, the more private the rooms become. However, there is never a sense of spaces loosing their sense of family, as all rooms open up onto the triple height central space.
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The house is organised over three floors, although only the ground floor occupies the entire footprint of the building. The two upper floors have set back to form three tiered spaces, helping maximise the cross-ventilation with views from the ground floor to the mono-pitched roof. Inside, the house has been arranged in such a way that, the higher up in the house, the more private the rooms become. However, there is never a sense of spaces loosing their sense of family, as all rooms open up onto the triple height central space.
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The interior finishes are the result of the chosen construction materials, which have been left exposed, showcasing the concrete slab on the ground floor and the wood structure on the upper floors. All metallic elements, including the structural columns, aluminium trim and railings have been given a copper finish, as have the conduits of all exposed installations. The use of wall claddings was restricted to wet areas, where white tiles are featured alongside terracotta colour grouting. The idea was to find a selection of materials and colours that worked both outside and inside, drawing attention to the building construction and structural materials.
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The home features a traditional language in its volumes and the design of its façade, maintaininng privacy from the outside while enhancing the spatial richness within. Thus, the versatility of the home’s spaces and its connection to the surroundings provide the owners a basis on which to build their own future, assuming such diverse functions as those of bedroom, living room, dining room, office, playroom, arts and crafts workshop and reading area, among others.
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- www.nookarchitects.com
- www.amomicasa.com
- Photography: Del Rio Bani