house in red. calas de guisando, avila

the plot lies perpendicular to the swamp and enjoys privileged views and private access to the water all over its east borderline. a high degree of protection is applied to the plot due to the ecological value of the swamp and its surrounding vegetation. the respect towards the landscape, natural topography and the existing vegetation will be the key principles of our work. the house is below, following the natural topography as if levitating above the natural soil. the relationship that this house establishes with the environment is of permeability and leveraging. the floor plan of the house is the direct consequence of the full respect towards the existing topography and trees; growing and shortening where allowed. the connection between the entrance level and access to water is graduated by three intermediate levels into which the diffe­rent family members find their private spaces and easily connect both to the exterior and the public level of the living room and the kitchen, situated as if a navel, in between the parent’s level and the children’s. this house can not speak of four organized facades according to orientation to cardinal points. the resulting facade does not undergo any process of composition but acquires the quality of skin and as such wraps and protects the volume defined by the program in the environment. it is a continuous red wooden skin that becomes transparent to capture light and vision when needed.