otto medem arquitectura: el viento residence, madrid

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otto medem arquitectura: el viento residence, madrid

Feb 21, 2013

first image
'el viento' by otto medem arquitectura, madrid, spain
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia
all images courtesy of otto medem arquitectura

'el viento' residence came to be as the result of spanish architect otto medem's explosive connection to the site upon its discovery. its location on an
escarpment in the mountainous villalba area with unabated views of madrid's mountain range, medem's practice, otto medem arquitectura,
used the site's natural contours and spectacular sight lines to dictate the arquitectonic qualities of the house as a sequence of discoveries as one
moves from room to room. an embracing entrance into the site with concealing white walls dulls the senses before enjoying the fragments of views
offered from the interior through the various lenses that frame different parts of the landscape. formally speaking, the dwelling consists of shards
of planes that seem to erroneously stretch across the site dynamically colliding into one another resulting in playful nooks and overhangs giving
depth to the light and shadows that hide around every corner. the protruding geometries are in reality strategically placed and sized for light or
views that become part of the quotidian events of life.

the entrance foyer is like a pivot that expresses an unexpected vertical space and provides a clear set of options for circulating through the radiating
wings of the house. organized around three levels, the upper floor contains the master bedroom and bathroom, the main level on grade houses the
kitchen, living room, garage, and smaller bedrooms, and the most social area partially embedded into the site offers access to a living area, sauna,
steam room, indoor spa and exterior swimming pool. an imposing boulder found intruding in the middle of the plot was not removed and instead
made into a uniting element around which leisure activities are organized, making its presence in the inside as much as the outside and acts as a sort
of base around which the dwelling develops. originally designed as a direct result of the site, the post-construction project embraces and enhances
the experience of the surrounding natural elements.

entrance
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

view from the mountainside
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

housing elements extend into the landscape
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

(left) nooks created by the intersection of planes
(right) overhangs and cantilevers create areas of shade
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

back deck and pool with integrated boulder
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

poolside veranda
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

front entry
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

windows up high bring in plenty of daylight
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

bright inteiors and reflective hardwood floors
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

kitchen
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

upstairs bedroom
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

stair well with slivers of intense natural light
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

anteroom to the indoor steam room
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

boulder integrated into the design
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

steam room
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

protruding geometries accented with artificial lighting
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

back yard and the nearby town in the distance
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

view from the central boulder and swimming pool
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

floor plan / level 0

floor plan / level 1

floor plan / level -1

elevation

concept sketch

project info:

architect: otto medem de la torre
collaborating architects: carlos bernardez agrafojo, laura portillo rodriguez
technical architect: andres garea noguerol
structural calculations: JCR
construction: jesus gomaz amoros
extension builder: peter jozsa
landscape architect: GAP 3
lighting: anos luz
location: collado, villabla, madrid, spain
area: 839.84 m2

danny db

02.21.13

nice…love it…and the sketches are even better…

Iva says:

Feb 21, 2013

Reply
this is wonderful. congrats.

hoseun says:

Feb 22, 2013

Reply
hate to be picky (because it’s so obvious what any amount of money can buy) but although the boulder is included well, the building looks almost it is being excluded from the landscape. The surrounding landscape/fauna is so beautiful why would you put an english lawn around it all? totally different suburban thought. just seems as if the whole could be incorporated into the landscape a bit better if they bought a set of besian curves and a local plant guide.
the free sketches are very nice and suggest the landscape is better included

pete says:

Feb 22, 2013

Reply
Ya to the above. Such a contrast between the landscaping and the natural surroundings, inconsistent with the sketches and finished form of the house. The boulders are incorporated into the house but eradicated from the yard. Possibly there is a limit spatially and temporally to the architects influence. Like, when the house is done someone else took over and did the garden.

Gordon says:

Feb 22, 2013

Reply
Pete: great comment/observation. Very possibly the architect had little control. one never knows what will happen after a house is turned over to a client. And landscaping always gives way to other cost over-runs

rich says:

Feb 22, 2013

Reply
Very nice large home with lots of room only thing left is the vents must have the right ac units.. gotta come see.

n1gga says:

Mar 07, 2013

Reply

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