DESIGN DESCRIPTION
Small geothermal bungalow
A couple with their two children needs a “minimal cabin” where they can spend the night in the large garden of Jilotepec. The small construction of cast concrete opens like a drawer to the south view of the nearby mountains.
It is a box that has decomposed, as if it were a sculpture in mud, showing its sides with a dark pigmentation that will attract heat. The living area is 1.5 meters from the ground level, ensuring a freer view of the horizon. It creates a storage space where the collected wood during the day is deposited. A small translucent cube forms the bathroom that contrasts with the massive pigmented concrete. Two rooms, a living/dining room/kitchen, and a warehouse to the north make up the needs program.
The geothermal temperature regulation system that descends 25m, which calculates 62% of the electrical savings, is largely responsible for this. The water is circulated, and once its temperature is compensated, it passes through the reinforced concrete plate that gives the small construction its foundation, reducing the use of heaters or coolers for the place’s extreme temperatures.
Visually, this is an exercise where you experiment with showing the plans that make up a volume and provide the client with an elegant and functional design.
References:
DETAIL Magazine
Yanko Design
Credits:
Architect Designer: Paul Cremoux W.
Client: Private
Place: Jilotepec, State of Mexico
Area: 55m² / 592sq. ft.
