DESIGN DESCRIPTION
The house and studio of a visual artist and his fiancée were designed with various themes in mind, such as the physical context, client needs, security, and a limited budget.
Six options were analyzed during the schematic design stage to control wind from the northeast, sunlight, light quality, cost, energy use, and specific operating expenses. By using design performance tools and technologies such as Fluid Dynamics, Energy Consumption Analysis, Material Life Cycle Assessment, and Climate Analysis, sustainable strategies were identified. The building is self-sufficient and will provide the site with an aquifer recharge that does not currently exist.
The main masses are distributed around a courtyard, creating a moderately open construction towards the interior and closed to the outside. The courtyard contains a Huizache tree, surrounded by a water mirror that refreshes and serves as a central feature.
The house comprises three main volumes, each oriented at a different angle to highlight distinct views in each area. The patio is the primary circulation strategy, providing a refuge from the wind, a connection to the sky, and a night-sky observatory. We aim to establish a deep relationship with the site by incorporating the patio’s open space.
Credits:
Design Architect:
Paul Cremoux W.
Project Team:
Structural Engineering:
PBS Ingenieros Ing. Rodolfo Salmón.
MEP Engineering:
CIE Arq. V. Hugo Juárez Romero.
Gross internal area: 3,143.06 sqft
Gross floor area: 7,559.3 sqft
Location:
Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende.
