* Residential Architecture: House in Gerês by Correia/Ragazzi arquitectos

Residential Architecture: House in Gerês by Correia/Ragazzi arquitectos: “..The project of this house foresees both to reconstruct and augment a ruin into a weekend retreat at a plot with extraordinary morphological characteristics, within Cavado River and its tributary. The plot, of 4.060m2, is located in a protected natural area and has for conditions a concrete construction and the preservation of all trees. The constructive capacity was given by the existing ruin..Since the first visit of the site it was clear we were dealing with a delicate project. The project placement on the plot was essential given that the surroundings were the main reference for the construction.  Having practiced water-ski for 20 years, the river grounds the weekend house for the clients. For them, the exceptional outlook one enjoys should be an element of the house; for us, architects, should be an evident inside space value, but also, the opposite concern was relevant – the house could only act as a significant element on the landscape..Having identified the site, a pragmatic analyse of the circumstances was in order: the demands of the program were a house for a couple and child, a visitor’s suit preferably dislocated from the house as also should be the storehouse for the water-ski activities holding a shower, bathroom and storage area.  The area of the house, inevitably small, was specified by the reduced dimension of the pre-existent ruin. Thus, the first sketches of the solution appear in its dependence… Meanwhile, the fundamental decision revealed itself through the house orientation. Its final location on site, at right angles to the slop, seeks for a better relation with the plot and the platform where it “lays”, avoiding all trees and damage to the outside area. The weightless intervention enhanced by the overhanging part that shoots off the riverbank cliff maximizes the transparent appearance from the river reducing land occupancy..The house makes a dialectic reference to Malaparte House by Adalberto Libera and the remarkable table Less by Jean Nouvel, suggesting the constructive solution for the top of the hanging part..As a half-buried house in its relation to the main access it appears diminished; on the other hand, from the river it appears as a glass frame dissimulated on the vegetation. The relation established by the house and ruin defines both the access and the scale of the intervention, transforming the ruin into a constant presence from the inside of the house such as any other landscape element. The concrete plasticity in relation with the luxuriant flora was determinant, therefore the careful concrete cast drawing. This concrete volume with accessible roof was entirely covered with birch on the inside and has grey self-leveled pavement..”  Extensive glazing, natural light, nature views; cantilever; marvelous site; interesting form..

image: © Luis Ferreira Alves; article: Arthitectural

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* Residential Architecture: Boxhome by Rintala Eggertsson Architects

Residential Architecture: Boxhome by Rintala Eggertsson Architects: “..Boxhome is a small, residential project in Oslo by Norwegian architects Rintala Eggertsson..The 19 square metre dwelling is described by the architects as being “a peaceful small home, a kind of urban cave”..It is constructed using a timber frame and is clad in aluminium. Internally, a different species of wood was chosen for each room..wood: pine / structures; cypress / interior walls and floors; birch / kitchen; spruce / bathroom; red oak / living room; nut/ bedroom..”  Unusual, intriguing; materials sensibility..

See our post on another project by Rintala Eggertsson Architects: Architecture: Into The Landscape by Rintala Eggertsson Architects.

image + article: Dezeen

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* Architecture: WISA Wooden Design Hotel by Pieta-Linda Auttila

Architecture: WISA Wooden Design Hotel by Pieta-Linda Auttila: “..Architect Pieta-Linda Auttila has completed a prototype holiday home in Helsinki, Finland, featuring a sculptural, wooden trellis between two box-like ends..Called the WISA Wooden Design Hotel and created for Finnish forest products brand UPM Kymmene, the building is made of pine, spruce and birch grown in Finland..The two solid volumes house sleeping and living areas, with large windows in each end overlooking the sea on one side and the city on the other..The curved panels of the wooden trellis shelter a central patio from wind and filter the light..”  Interesting form and interiors; extensive interior and exterior wood..

image: UPM; article: Dezeen

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* Residential Architecture: Bologna Guest House by Enrico Iascone Architects

Residential Architecture: Bologna Guest House by Enrico Iascone Architects: “..in a forest of oaks, ash and maple trees, in bologna. at its place today, a small house is hosted on two levels, conceived like modern architecture adapting itself to the landscape with innovative and contemporary style, where its compact volume embedded in the land that takes advantage of the characteristics of the ground and the place. the use of prefabricated wood panels has allowed an express development of the yard, which lasted little more than four months, conjugating technical, stylistic and architectonic needs and affording a strong interaction with the ground. the walls are ventilated and thermally isolated, covered with wood panels in the same color of the surrounding trees. the same material is used for the inclined cover, while the flat cover of the main body ends with a layer of gravel. its front elevation perspective opens light holes that respect the dimension of the panels, while on the lateral fronts there are large windows that integrate nature and the building. the interior is simple and linear while for external details and walls of control are used chalk blocks from the yard workings..”  Marvelous.  Extensive glazing, wonderful, rather idiosyncratic, fenestration, contextual and colouristic sensibility,wood cladding,  lovely site, contemporary Italian interior sensibility, natural light, views, nature..

See our post on another home by Enrico Iascone Architects: Residential Architecture: Private House by Enrico Iascone Architects.

image: Courtesy of Enrico Iascone Architects; article: Designboom

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