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Carbon House

Valentí Albareda Studio

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Comments
Innovation
Functionality
Creativity
Eco-Social Impact
Total
JURY VOTES
House
6.86
7.10
6.70
6.40
6.76
Floor area
120 ㎡
Completion
2021
Images

Valentí Albareda Studio

This project aimes to create a new home for a growing family in the outskirts of Barcelona. Despite the small plot, around 220 sq.m. since the family had 3 children they wanted a house as wide as possible. Therefore from the very beggining we proposed a house that maximised the habitable area while regularising the layout. That made building the structure and the hole house much easier. Steel and timber structure follows that clear layout. This is a great construction system due to the fast assambling optimising resources and construction time.

A central stair with a solid base that roots it to the ground creates at the same time the space for extra storage. The rest of the stair follows the opposit strategy, the lightness of the top intends not to break the continuity of the open space at the ground floor. This stair becomes therefor one of the focal points for this project. Small WC is embeded on the continuous piece of furniture at the rear of the house that is kitchen, storage and tiny wc at the same time. To integrate and link all areas at ground floor, the whole space follows the 240cm datum. All furniture, windows and doors follow that line. Cimatization is hidden under the 240cm level so the steel and timber slab is exposed without interruption.

 Materials in this project are shown in a honest way. The same way the project is shown in an honest way exposing the structure, the steel from the structure is left bare naked and the timber on the beams is left exposed too. 

We wanted the exterior of the house not to the main focus, rather a backbround for the things that happen on the garden and inside the house. That is why the mixed exterior finishes, dark grey brick and and dark grey zinc were choosen. To contrast with the fresh exterior green and the warm interior. The exterior envelope is percieved as a cube since the perimetral walls hide the roof. The exterior vegetation plays an important job in this project. In order to open the house outside the openings are maximised, that way the garden becomes part of the interior. Deciduous vegetacion protects the south openings at ground level with a metal pergola. This vegetation serves as well to create a shaded exterior space for the summer days and a focal point of view that links the interior with the exterior. 

The first floor is pretty simple and the layout is 100% functional. Master bedroom with ensuite, 2 bedrooms for the kids plus a share bathroom. The area under the roof becomes a study/play area.