Cargo‑Net Floor above Double‑Height Living | Primeriza House

Giving the old home a makeover I all about discovering an entire new world of possibilities within a limited framework and pre-existing constraints. Originally built in the 1920’s, this Californian-style bungalow in Kensington, Sydney was revamped and altered to give the lower level a new living area, dining and kitchen space and the upper level […]

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The Triangle House The characteristic of the narrow, steep hillside plot is its tapering, triangular shape. The view sweeps far and wide over an extensive, natural landscape towards the valley. The layout of the stretched building follows the property line. Surrounded by small residential streets, the building is closed to the hill side, thus forming its back. Here the visitor enters the house on the ground floor, which is the middle level of three, consisting mostly of an airy and spacious area, which is the center of family life. Cooking, eating and living are combined here, zoned only by a freestanding fireplace. This all-round glazed room is sun-drenched all day and opens out to a directly adjacent pool and terrace providing a beautiful view of the surrounding nature. At the tip of the house there is a small workplace, which, like a look-out, opens out to the front of the house. Viewing it from the outside, this narrow side of the building appears like a tower, which proudly stands out as if it is aware of its imposing effect. In contrast, the long side of the house facing the valley is inviting, open and wide. It is remarkable to note how the facade is bent at various points and the building view is accentuated by these carefully folded planes. The basement of the house is accessed from this side. One enters a very generously planned garage, which is tucked away into the ground. A gym is situated towards the west and a family wardrobe towards the east, through which you reach the stairs that take you directly to the ground floor. The private areas, which are located on the first floor, are also completely glazed and offer a spectacular view, bordered by mountains on the horizon. The parents’ bedroom open out onto an exclusive terrace.

Situated in Tulum, this small boutique hotel rises between the trees, in which the main concept consisted in preserving 70% of the existing vegetation in order to build around it. By achieving this, every space of the project is always in relation to its natural surroundings. The hotel has five 50m2 lodges, formed by a double height room, a mezzanine or “tapanco”, a terrace and an indoor-outdoor bathroom. At the back of the lot the social areas are located, with a dining space and yoga pavilion hanging in cantilever over the pool. The main idea of this water element is to be extruded from the ground in between the vegetation. For this reason, two old zapote trees were preserved, which look as they were rising from the pool itself. All the project is composed by local materials, as well as low maintenance and natural textures, which provide a warm atmosphere to the buildings. A particular finish found on the walls is “chukum”, a Mayan stucco characteristic of the region, which uses a tree resin to give its distinctive color, appearance and durability. The objective was to use materials that age with dignity, so that with the passing of time the architecture acquires character and a deeper sense of belonging. The different volumes of the complex are scattered along the lot, between the trees and stone paths, which provide a sensation of being in a small village in the Mayan jungle. Throughout the design process there was a search for pure forms and natural materials that could blend with the surrounding context. In a sense, Jungle Keva is like an abstraction or simplification of vernacular architecture, easy to read, simple and with a social, natural and economic conscience.