Casa Río: A Sensitive Architectural Integration with Nature and Sustainable Design

Response of the Project to Topography

The “Casa Río” project exemplifies a design that is sensitive to topography and the irregular geometry of the land. The V-shaped form was carefully chosen, not only to address the challenges posed by the trapezoidal site, but also to create a harmonious relationship between the building and its natural surroundings.

Creating a Central Space Connected to the Environment

The building’s triangular form provides a central garden that acts as a connecting link between the different parts of the house. This garden is not limited to aesthetic purposes; it frames the surrounding natural views, enhancing the sense of integration with the environment and creating a cohesive spatial experience.

Integration of the Building with Nature

The project’s design aims to make the architecture blend seamlessly among the trees, reflecting a deep understanding of the relationship between the building and its surrounding environment. The façade relies on solid walls that limit openings toward the front exterior, while the rear opens fully to the natural landscape, creating a balance between privacy and natural integration.

A Light and Transparent House

The design embodies the vision of a light and transparent house, capable of perceiving its surroundings without imposing itself upon them. This approach allows for a sensitive interaction with the environment, where natural views become part of the daily experience of the occupants, and visitors feel that the building is a part of the landscape rather than an external, detached element.

Volumetric Organization of the Design

The project unfolds through two main volumes, reflecting a precise understanding of the topography and spatial functions. The first volume, inclined to follow the slope of the land, houses the primary social spaces such as the living and double-height dining areas, creating a sense of spaciousness and openness.

Multipurpose Spaces

This volume also includes an office with a separate entrance and an upper mezzanine platform that amplifies the sense of interior space. The design of these areas balances privacy and openness, allowing residents to move seamlessly between daily activities.

Connection Between Interior and Exterior

Externally, the pool and fireplace enhance the relationship between the architecture and the surrounding landscape. This interplay between interior and exterior makes the residential experience more cohesive and reflects a design philosophy aimed at harmoniously integrating the building with its environment.

Focus on Services and the Ground Floor

The second volume of the project focuses on service functions, with the ground floor accommodating the kitchen, TV room, and terraces, alongside a circulation core that facilitates movement between spaces. The basement houses storage rooms and service facilities, ensuring efficient organization of daily functions without compromising the quality of the main spaces.

Upper Floor for Private Spaces

The upper floor is dedicated to the residents’ private areas, including a master bedroom with a large walk-in closet, as well as three secondary bedrooms. These rooms are strategically oriented toward the northwest façade, providing natural vistas while maintaining privacy, emphasizing the design principle of balancing openness with seclusion.

Integrating the Structural Framework into the Architectural Language

The project’s structural design reflects a deliberate approach to incorporating it as part of the architectural language, where its role extends beyond mere structural support to contribute aesthetically and functionally to the building.

Wide Spans and a Sense of Lightness

Slim steel columns, plates, and tension devices create wide spans, enhancing the feeling of lightness and openness within the spaces. In the bedrooms, the tension devices help regulate sunlight and frame external views, providing a spatial experience that harmonizes with the surrounding nature.

Floating and Transparency

The side walls of the first volume also rise above the ground, adding a sense of lightness and transparency. This structural approach helps integrate the building seamlessly with the natural environment, making the engineering an integral part of the occupant’s visual and functional experience.

Contrasting Dialogue in the Facades

The project’s facades create a contrasting visual dialogue that reflects the philosophy of dynamic design. The front and side façades appear balanced and solid, giving the building a stable architectural presence.

Openness to Nature

In contrast, the rear façade opens entirely through floor-to-ceiling windows, dissolving the boundaries between interior and exterior. This openness enhances the connection with the surrounding natural environment and provides an immersive spatial experience for the occupants, making the external landscape an integral part of daily life within the house.

Materials and Integration with Context

The materials chosen for the project enhance integration with the surrounding natural and cultural context. Locally sourced resources such as Santo Tomás marble, walnut veneer, and wood-like ribbed panels create a balance between the architecture and the natural environment.

Sustainable Design and Low-Maintenance Gardens

These materials interact with dry gardens featuring controlled gravel and native plants that require minimal water consumption. Additionally, the project replaces traditional grass with sustainable landscaping, reducing environmental impact and strengthening the connection to the territory, reflecting a sustainable and environmentally conscious design philosophy.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

The “Casa Río” project demonstrates a clear effort to integrate architecture with nature, showing a commitment to sustainable design and the use of local materials, which adds both environmental and aesthetic value to the site. The organization of spaces and the two main volumes provides a coherent spatial experience and reflects a precise architectural sensibility.

However, some challenges may arise for new users in terms of spatial legibility, as the project relies on extensions and multifunctional spaces that may require time to adapt to. Additionally, the strong focus on natural integration might reduce the clarity of boundaries between interior and exterior in certain areas, potentially affecting privacy or ease of daily movement at times.

Overall, the project emerges as an intriguing architectural case, with clear advantages and considerations that could be refined to enhance the daily experience of its occupants.

Prepared by the ArchUp Editorial Team

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