U House | Materia
Mexico City / Mexico / 2015
Casa U is located in the suburbs of Mexico City in a very steep and hilly site. The pronounced slope generated a sitting that emphasizes the intimate relationship between the spaces of the house with the site´s topography. The parti questioned the typical sequence of a house, having its access in its roof to then descend into the private and social spaces of the house.
The exterior facade is sober and simple, hiding the house beyond and making evident the relationship between slope and horizon. After an entry portal, a bridge extends the transition from the street and becomes an observatory. By stepping away from the slope, the house reduces its footing and frees up the most of green surface
The stair becomes the core of the project, acting as the material axis and a threshold of light. It distributes to all levels and spaces making use of landings with framed views, bringing the landscape into the interior at different scales. The steps are strategically longer in some sections to slow down the person and allow for a more conscious act of transitioning between levels.
The top level holds the garage and access vestibule, being the next level down occupied by the bedrooms, followed by the living room and dining and lastly a semi-buried level with a playroom and access to the lower garden.
The materiality responds to the function of the spaces. Concrete is used for all of the volumes that hold the earth and contain service spaces. The social level, the one with access to the gardens is expressed with a heavier nature using a black stone with a pattern that provide a continuous play of light and shadow. The highest volumes containing the bedrooms are finished with a white and light surface creating contrast.
[ESP]
Casa U es un proyecto situado en un terreno de pronunciada pendiente en la zona poniente de la Ciudad de México. Su condición escarpada generó el emplazamiento del proyecto que enfatiza una relación estrecha entre los espacios y recorridos de la casa. De este modo, se cuestionan las secuencias típicas de una casa, comenzando su acceso desde el punto más alto para ir descendiendo a los espacios privados y sociales de la casa.
La fachada exterior, sobria y sencilla, dibuja una línea horizontal que enfatiza la pendiente de la calle, origina un portal de acceso y prolonga la transición hacia la casa por medio de un puente que sirve como observatorio. La casa minimiza su huella de desplante y libera el mayor espacio posible de área verde. La escalera actúa como el núcleo, umbral de luz y eje material del proyecto, distribuye los niveles valiéndose de descansos con remates visuales a las áreas verdes y barrancas. Los escalones se alargan en ocasiones, desacelerando el proceso de subir o bajar para propiciar un contacto visual mayor con el contexto exterior.
De este modo, el nivel superior de acceso contiene un vestíbulo y garaje, el nivel medio, las recámaras, en planta baja la sala y comedores, donde se establece el primer contacto con el terreno, finalmente un nivel de cuarto de juegos que está parcialmente enterrado y que conecta con el jardín más bajo. La estrategia de materiales responde a la función de los espacios. El concreto se manifiesta en los espacios de servicio que son volúmenes de contención enterrados en el terreno. Los espacios sociales y que se desplantan sobre el terreno expresan un carácter pétreo con un patrón con salientes que detonan a lo largo del día un juego de luz y sombra. Finalmente la parte elevada de la casa y de espacios privados se aligera con un acabado blanco y fino que produce contraste.
Casa U is located in the suburbs of Mexico City in a very steep and hilly site. The pronounced slope generated a sitting that emphasizes the intimate relationship between the spaces of the house with the site´s topography. The parti questioned the typical sequence of a house, having its access in its roof to then descend into the private and social spaces of the house.
The exterior facade is sober and simple, hiding the house beyond and making evident the relationship between slope and horizon. After an entry portal, a bridge extends the transition from the street and becomes an observatory. By stepping away from the slope, the house reduces its footing and frees up the most of green surface
The stair becomes the core of the project, acting as the material axis and a threshold of light. It distributes to all levels and spaces making use of landings with framed views, bringing the landscape into the interior at different scales. The steps are strategically longer in some sections to slow down the person and allow for a more conscious act of transitioning between levels.
The top level holds the garage and access vestibule, being the next level down occupied by the bedrooms, followed by the living room and dining and lastly a semi-buried level with a playroom and access to the lower garden.
The materiality responds to the function of the spaces. Concrete is used for all of the volumes that hold the earth and contain service spaces. The social level, the one with access to the gardens is expressed with a heavier nature using a black stone with a pattern that provide a continuous play of light and shadow. The highest volumes containing the bedrooms are finished with a white and light surface creating contrast.
Casa U is located in the suburbs of Mexico City in a very steep and hilly site. The pronounced slope generated a sitting that emphasizes the intimate relationship between the spaces of the house with the site´s topography. The parti questioned the typical sequence of a house, having its access in its roof to then descend into the private and social spaces of the house. The exterior facade is sober and simple, hiding the house beyond and making evident the relationship between slope and...
- Year 2015
- Work finished in 2015
- Status Completed works
- Type Single-family residence / Interior Design
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