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Casa Gesso

Viruta Lab

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David Zarzoso
David Zarzoso
David Zarzoso
David Zarzoso

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Comments
Innovation
Functionality
Creativity
Eco-Social Impact
Total
JURY VOTES
House
7.10
7.50
7.60
6.80
7.25
Budiman Ong
Budiman Ong Creative Director at Ong Cen Kuang
7.5
8
8.5
7
7.75
Arjun Malik
Arjun Malik Principal Architect at Malik Architecture
7.5
8
8
7
7.63
Alvaro Paredes Palacios
Alvaro Paredes Palacios Principal and Partner at The Designlab
8
8
8
7
7.75
Julião Leite
Julião Leite Partner at OODA
8
7.5
8.5
8
8
Valeria Tsikhinia
Valeria Tsikhinia Design Manager- Interior Design | Design & Development at Al Futtaim Real Estate
7.5
8
7.5
7
7.5
Shelley Baxter
Shelley Baxter Design Director New York at March and White
8
8
7.5
7
7.63
Peng Cai
Peng Cai Founder and Principal Architect at Infinite
7.5
8
8
7.5
7.75
Blair Cooper
Blair Cooper Creative Director at Seen Studios
love the playful use of scale for t...
7
7
8.5
6.5
7.25
Lewis Lu
Lewis Lu Head of Planning & Design Department at Shenzhen Qianhai and Shekou Free Trade Zone Investment Development
8
7.5
8
8
7.88
Designer
Client
Private
Floor area
145 ㎡
Completion
2024
Social Media
Instagram Linkedin
Exterior tiles
Porcelain Tiles (façade, countertops, flooring, walls up to 150 cm and shower cladding)
Woodwork
Bench, Stools
Modular Sofa, Chairs, Square Cushions, Study Chair
Coffee Tables
Square Cushions, Pedestal
Decorative Cushions
Dining Table
Vases
Bedroom Decorative Cushions
Bedside Table
Study Desk, Bed Headboard

Viruta Lab, led by David Puerta and María Daroz, presents Casa Gesso, a residential project bridging design with the artistic legacy of Ángela García Codoñer, a trailblazer in Spanish feminist art of the 1970s. The home is conceived as a living canvas that reflects García Codoñer’s critical exploration of gender, identity, and representation.

A Living Homage to Feminist Art
Casa Gesso transcends traditional residential design by embedding García Codoñer’s iconic series—Morfologías, Misses, and Labores—into its architecture. Each space reinterprets her works, preserving their socio-political discourse while situating them within a modern context. The result is a home that serves as both a residence and a platform for artistic reflection.

Design Highlights and Architectural Vision
The façade, clad in bone-colored porcelain tiles, evokes traditional washhouses, connecting the exterior to García Codoñer’s themes of labor and artistry. The house comprises two volumes: a day zone with expansive living areas and a night zone with private quarters. A central courtyard anchors the design, providing light and ventilation while serving as a transition between spaces.

A staircase integrated into stained oak cabinetry unifies the two volumes, while large-format porcelain tiles throughout create visual cohesion. Vertical windows in the night zone enhance privacy and emphasize height. Lighting combines decorative fixtures with diffused LEDs to achieve warm, functional spaces.

Interiors as Storytelling Spaces
Each interior area reinterprets García Codoñer’s artistic narratives. Inspired by Morfologías, the central space uses sinuous forms and the interplay of light and shadow to reflect on evolving gender perceptions. The master bedroom draws from Misses, incorporating a Chanel-style tweed headboard critiquing the objectification of women in beauty pageants. A stage-inspired spotlight emphasizes the artificiality of these ideals. In the living room, Labores informs a reinterpretation of traditionally feminine handicrafts, blending neutral tones, natural wood, and tactile textiles with sculptural furniture to create an intimate atmosphere that bridges the boundaries between art and craft.

Art, Craftsmanship, and Social Critique
Natural materials like wood and terracotta tones infuse warmth, while bespoke elements, including travertine marble coffee tables and a microcement dining table, balance craftsmanship with modernity. These choices echo García Codoñer’s exploration of the intersection between art and domestic life, challenging conventional divisions between the two.

A Space for Reflection and Dialogue
Casa Gesso exemplifies how residential architecture can transcend functionality, becoming a medium for social critique and artistic engagement. By honoring Ángela García Codoñer’s legacy, Viruta Lab has created a space that fosters reflection on gender equality and cultural evolution, transforming a home into a living dialogue with art and feminism.