Casa Anjung Project by Eleena Jamil Architect

The Casa de Tijolos Incomum residence, developed by PLUG modular architecture, is located in San Andrés de Giles, immersed in the humid landscape of the pampas. This property was designed for a couple dedicated to the arts: a plastic artist and a sculptor and landscape designer in training.

Project Guidelines

The selection of the land for this country house was motivated by the potential for experimentation and landscape creation. The owners defined two crucial requirements from the beginning of the design process. The first focused on the arrangement of rooms, such as bedrooms and living room, in relation to the land. The second, equally relevant, was the desire to use brick, a characteristic material of the region, given that the area has a local production hub with artisanal kilns just 12 km away in the city of Cucullú.

Architectural Conception and Materials

Although modular construction is not restricted to specific materials, the proposal adopted exposed brick on the external facades. This generated a cohesive envelope that defines the identity of the dwelling. The brick, besides having no primary structural function or being merely a finish, contributes significantly to the thermal performance of the building. Its thickness was explored as an architectural resource, uniting the idea of robust constructions, where the wall itself houses functions, with the concept of a boundary defined by its thickness, modulating the interactions between the interior and the exterior.

Volume and Layout

The volume was conceived as a massive block that was excavated. The project started from a solid rectangular volume, from which three voids were removed, giving rise to the patios. These patios were conceived as places to test various landscape compositions according to solar orientation. Subsequently, the volume was excavated to form a double-faced shell. The external surfaces receive full cladding in exposed brick, ensuring unity, continuity, and thickness to the ensemble. Conversely, the planes facing the internal spaces use lighter materials, such as metal sheets and wooden planks, creating a contrast between the external solidity and the internal lightness.

In the final layout, there is a balance between open and closed areas. In one direction, the residence remains more reserved, ensuring privacy relative to the public road; in another, it promotes visual and spatial fluidity, establishing an uninterrupted sequence directed towards the patios, which are always visible during internal journeys.

The Casa na Areia project, developed by ARX Portugal Arquitectos, is conceived as a material and tectonic volume characterized by a faceted and articulated geometry that integrates deeply into the terrain. Although situated on a slope, the house occupies an elevated position, which gives it a sense of visual dominance and perspective over the surrounding landscape.

Conceptual Inspiration and Morphology

Conceptually, the work refers to the surveillance exercised by ancient defensive buildings typical of this coastal area, such as watchtowers and bastions. These historical structures establish an intimate connection between the land and the sea. Such constructions often preceded larger urban settlements and featured varied forms, from square plans to star configurations, always seeking a strategy of fusion or camouflage in the landscape.

In this physical and conceptual context, the house adopts a star-shaped and polyfaceted morphology, with a predominantly opaque expression, even though it has large recessed openings. The volume is built in exposed concrete, pigmented in a green tone, appearing like an artifact emerging from or belonging to the earth, promoting symbiosis rather than opposition, a common characteristic in residences. Its presence in the location is therefore one of total integration.

Design and Climate Control Details

The roof was designed with a garden, reinforcing the idea of belonging and creating a new space for landscape enjoyment beyond the property itself. Due to the climatic requirements of the Guincho region, the body of the house was excavated internally, resulting in the formation of two large patios in the center of the residence. This arrangement aims to concentrate a significant piece of nature in the core of the house, providing an environment protected from strong northwest winds, while maintaining a serene opening facing south.

Natural rock outcrops were incorporated into the project, and the vegetation used is from native flora, ensuring vegetal continuity with the soil. The walls delimiting these patios are fully glazed to facilitate interaction with the natural environment. Internally, the floors and walls facing the patios are executed in exposed wood, further enhancing the connection with the natural context.

The Casa Muxarabi, designed by Vilanova Artigas in 1956, is characterized by a clear structure and spatial precision, presenting a white rectangular volume raised on pilotis. The upper floor has bedrooms facing northeast, benefiting from morning sun exposure, while a balcony protected by muxarabis controls the entry of light and heat. The renovation focused on understanding the spatial and constructive logic of the house, aiming to adapt it to contemporary ways of living without losing its architectural identity. It was possible to reorganize the spaces using the existing inverted beams, and the removal of masonry on the ground floor increased the continuity between the living room, dining room, and kitchen. On the upper floor, the muxarabi, originally made of wood and replaced with black aluminum, was painted white, filtering light and creating shadow patterns. Modern techniques were discreetly incorporated, such as revising the rainwater harvesting system, which now uses an internal shaft so as not to interfere with the clad facades.