AFFORDABILITY IS POSSIBLE

This house of just 68 internal square metres looks like a much larger residential space. Throughout the arrangement of four external patios, the dwelling enjoys visual expansion, light, and natural ventilation.

Simple timber panels separate these four different environments. The biggest courtyard is on the front putting distance between the public road and the dwelling. It contains the driveway, main garden, decking-swimming pool area and stream of water. Aluminium shutters and stacker windows protect the big opening of the house towards the west sun radiation and allow cross ventilation.

This long, continuous semi-transparent façade creates a barrier between this more exposed area and the more private open spaces. An articulation of the front creates a void that forms the formal entrance to the dwelling and gives access to the second yard. This is a smaller garden with aquatic plants and a bridge over the water.

Connected with this private garden is a paved patio which contains all the necessary equipment for a barbeque area. Directly related to this space are the kitchen, dining and living room in a synergetic relationship of functions and space.

Finally, the fourth courtyard is a minor green area that works as an extension of the main bedroom.

The internal brief contemplates the garage, living room, dining, entertainment area and bedroom. The kitchen is a long corridor that connects with the external patio and offers space for cooking, laundry and storage.

There is a big sliding panel that separates the living room from the entertainment zone. In this way, this last can be used as a second bedroom for guests. The formal bedroom is small but has a private open garden space that allows visual expansion. It has an ensuite and wardrobe both of much bigger height duplicating the storage capacity and promoting better sky cross ventilation. This volume also breaks the horizontality of the main façade.

All in all, this solution, even though small, offers a very flexible range of uses and quality spaces. The construction system is very simple and quick to build, which importantly reduces the costs.

Material: Cement sheet panels, steel, timber, glass.Area: 68 m²