otto medem arquitectura: el viento residence, madrid
‘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.
entrance
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia
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.
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
elevation
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
otto medem arquitectos (4 articles)
mediterranean influences captured in home by otto medem arquitectura
otto medem arquitectura elongates family home in suburban madrid
otto medem creates a refuge in the mountains
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nice…love it…and the sketches are even better…
this is wonderful. congrats.
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
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.
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 🙂
Very nice large home with lots of room only thing left is the vents must have the right ac units.. gotta come see.