* Residential Architecture: X House by Cadaval & Solà-Morales

Residential Architecture: X House by Cadaval & Solà-Morales: “..This X-shaped house by architects Cadaval & Sola-Morales hangs over the edge of a hillside on the outskirts of Barcelona, Spain..Aptly named X House, the two-storey residence is based on a simple rectilinear form but features four triangular recesses that create the X-shaped plan. One of these recesses allows the structure to avoid a nearby tree, while two others provide windows that avoid overlooking neighbouring houses and the fourth lengthens the glazed facade to offer a wider view of the surrounding landscape..”The form is not a priori, but an effort to give a unitary response that satisfies each of the questions that rose up in the design process,” explains Cadaval & Solà-Morales..The walls without glazing appear as solid, undecorated concrete and were set using a single-sided formwork. “[The house] accumulates in its skin the diverse and continuous knowledge acquired within the process of construction,” say the architects..Residents enter the house on the top floor by following a staircase around the edge of the pine tree and locating a door that is two metres below street level, alongside a garage for parking two cars..A bedroom, bathroom and study occupy two arms of the cross on this floor and overlook a double-height living room on the storey below..Downstairs, the living room and kitchen wrap around the facade to offer views out across over the hillside..”X House uses form to qualify spaces of very different nature and provide them with an individual character, always incorporating landscape as a main actor,” add the architects..”  Extensive glazing, natural light, views; very interesting form, interior volumes, contextuality on a steep site; roof terrace; very good photos, some by the excellent photographer Iwan Baan, in a 20-image slideshow accompanying the original article.

image: Sandra Pereznieto; article: Dezeen

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* Architecture: D38 Zona Franca Office Barcelona by Arata Isozaki

Architecture: D38 Zona Franca Office Barcelona by Arata Isozaki: “..’D38 zona franca office’ by japanese architect arata isozaki is situated at the foot of montjuic hill, and positioned to the west of barcelona, spain between the airport and seaport. part of a developing office district, this structure is part of a masterplan developed in collaboration with UK-based FOA. the  three phase project produced 70,000 square meters of rentable space upon a 35,000 square meter plot..a flexible interior allows future tenants to retrofit their working environments. a square footprint of 52.5 by 52.5 meters is deconstructed by removing volumes from the mid-section forming an open-air terrace. a double-storey glass-enclosed volume is retain within the building’s void, appearing to hang from the underside of the first level. two different interior configurations within an L and C shape can be used for one, two or three units..”  Flexibility, open air terrace..

image: © filippo poli; article: Designboom

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* Residential Architecture: AA House by OAB

Residential Architecture: AA House by OAB: “..The design scheme for House AA responds to simple geometric rules..The footprint of the building uses a superimposed 7×7 meter skewed grid to support the program in a composition similar to a musical score. The diagonals serve as a roof system that ungulates like an artificial topography, creating skylights in some cases, while in others situations, rising up double the height of other rooftop peaks..At the base floor, the program develops a direct relationship between the interior and exterior through the abundant use of glasswork, trellises, and sliding panels. This allows a visual connection to the garden for the following spaces: the rooms, halls, library, dining rooms, kitchen, main bedroom and guest suites..Vertically consistent relationships exist between the main floor and adjacent floors, always responding to the programmatic demands, and therefore completing the three dimensional continuity of the building..The areas on the lower floor are service areas of the main program, such as a cellar communicating directly with the dining room, a video library communicating with the library; an inside swimming pool and Turkish bath, an extension of the main bedroom, and a service flat leading directly to the kitchen areas..The upper level serves as the Piano Nobile, or private level, from which a direct relationship to the surrounding landscape is still maintained through the use of glazing..The layout is completed with private access to the patio. Its secluded position contrasts the luminous presentation of the house. Ceramic tiles are used as cladding on the rooftops as well as the perimeter walls. Light enters at specific points of the program where large sections of glazing complete the building..”  Distinctive form, expansive glazing, natural light, interesting interior volumes..

image: ALEJO BAGUÉ; article: Contemporist

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* Architecture: Fabrica Moritz Brewery Barcelona by Jean Nouvel

Architecture: Fabrica Moritz Brewery Barcelona by Jean Nouvel: “..the restoration of a 19th century brewery in barcelona would both convert the dilapidating building into a material representation of its historical significance, and create a community treasure centered around design, cuisine and culture. leading the renovation, french architect jean nouvel worked hand in hand with CEO albert castello, and jordi vila, director of gastronomy. the companies priorities wanted to modernize the structure while maintaining moritz’s essence and expose the unique industrial vestiges of its era, namely the brickwork, vaulted concrete cellars and floor mosaics. although decommissioned as the principle brewing establishment, the construct has been repurposed to encompass a venue for the public..once a massive gray wall, the entrance is now greeted by a vertical garden created by parisian botanist patrick blanc. an outdoor staircase leads to the entry on the second floor which contains an outdoor terrace, museum, a gastronomical hall and workshop. at street level is the ‘M’ store, a wine bar with over 400 types, the moritz bar, water tanks, and of course a microbrewery..the subterranean fermentation halls have become the new cultural center; a restaurant and kitchen sit next to sala 39 (room 39), a large multi-use exhibition area adaptable for expositions, meeting rooms and performances for large or small audiences..”  Beer in Barcelona; vertical garden by Patrick Blanc..

See our posts on work by Jean Nouvel:

•  Architecture: Police Headquarters & Extension of Charleroi/Danses by Ateliers Jean Nouvel & MDW Architecture
• Gehry, Hadid, Foster, Ando, & Nouvel – All on One Small Island
• Jean Nouvel Design for “One Central Park” Finally Approved
• Conflict Surrounding Jean Nouvel’s Proposed New Midtown Manhattan Skyscraper
• More on Jean Nouvel’s National Museum of Qatar
• Jean Nouvel to Design 2010 Serpentine Gallery Pavilion
• Jean Nouvel Paris Tower Shelved
• Jean Nouvel’s National Museum of Qatar

image: © pierre clemencon; article: Designboom

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