Vivienda a través del espejo / CRUX arquitectos

Vivienda a través del espejo / CRUX arquitectos - Interior Photography, Shelving
© Milena Villalba

Vivienda a través del espejo / CRUX arquitectos - Interior Photography, WindowsVivienda a través del espejo / CRUX arquitectos - Interior PhotographyVivienda a través del espejo / CRUX arquitectos - Interior Photography, WindowsVivienda a través del espejo / CRUX arquitectos - Interior Photography, Closet, ShelvingVivienda a través del espejo / CRUX arquitectos - More Images+ 19

Torrent, Spain
  • Architects: CRUX arquitectos
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  135
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2021
  • Photographs
    Photographs:Milena Villalba
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  Madentia SL, Obralma SL
  • Lead Architects: Raquel Sola Rubio, Alejandro García Pedrón
  • Collaborators: Carla Ruótolo
  • City: Torrent
  • Country: Spain
More SpecsLess Specs
Vivienda a través del espejo / CRUX arquitectos - Interior Photography, Windows
© Milena Villalba

Text description provided by the architects. The illusion materialized through the looking glass allows us to perform spatial actions where it was not possible at first glance, to expand or reduce spaces, to make uses appear or disappear, to cause material levitations of built volumes, generating surprise in the viewer of a changing environment, within an apparently static and defined space. I. The commission. The house to be refurbished is located in Calicanto, Valencia, a garden house development linked to the mountain landscape. The sufficient slope in the plot allowed the existing construction to be developed on two floors: one with direct access from the street and the second one, to be refurbished, on a lower level with three free façades in relation to the park and the pool. The preexistent building was organized according to use, being the level related to the access specifically allocated to housing and placing the service floor and garage in the semi-basement. The developer family wanted to regain the semi-basement level, a relegated space in the house, and with it all the moments shared as a family (cooking, playing, exercising, reading, resting), to be able to enjoy it alone or with friends.

Vivienda a través del espejo / CRUX arquitectos - Interior Photography, Windows
© Milena Villalba
Vivienda a través del espejo / CRUX arquitectos - Interior Photography
© Milena Villalba
Vivienda a través del espejo / CRUX arquitectos - Image 17 of 24
Plan
Vivienda a través del espejo / CRUX arquitectos - Image 18 of 24
Plan
Vivienda a través del espejo / CRUX arquitectos - Interior Photography, Kitchen, Countertop
© Milena Villalba
Vivienda a través del espejo / CRUX arquitectos - Image 22 of 24
Axo
Vivienda a través del espejo / CRUX arquitectos - Interior Photography, Shelving
© Milena Villalba

II. The challenge. The floor plan of the intervention, with a square proportion, has as fixed and determining elements: a defined perimeter wall, two bearing columns in the center of the room, and a two-section staircase that ensures the internal connection with the house. Internally, a transverse partition divided the space into two areas: one of them conditioned for its proper lighting and ventilation, and the other one with two openings facing north-west, linked to the park through a semi-covered area. Finally, lateral access from the street through a vehicular ramp guarantees independent use at this level. The need to generate open and diaphanous spaces was raised here while allowing the alternative of having areas for independent use and thus being able to develop different activities in a space with defined limits. III. The illusion. Being able to integrate the exterior into the interior, duplicating the space by bringing light into areas where it couldn’t reach. Harboring uses that require intimate conditions in a unified space. Turning the storage room level into one more room in the house. A method that could generate effects of transformations, unions, links, disappearances, and duplications was needed, making possible desired illusions a reality.

Vivienda a través del espejo / CRUX arquitectos - Interior Photography, Shelving
© Milena Villalba
Vivienda a través del espejo / CRUX arquitectos - Interior Photography, Shelving
© Milena Villalba
Vivienda a través del espejo / CRUX arquitectos - Image 23 of 24
Model
Vivienda a través del espejo / CRUX arquitectos - Interior Photography, Closet, Shelving
© Milena Villalba

IV. The trick. The strategy was based on three operations. Firstly, architecture was understood as equipped volumes, centralized in space, allowing the generation of differentiated areas within a single contained space. The concentration of services in two modules simultaneously supplies all the areas: on the one hand from the kitchen to the dining room, on the other hand, the toilet, shower, and sink, which can function independently or in combination, and lastly a washing area towards a temporary hanging area. Secondly, the central position of the modules and their condition of parallelism guarantees free movement among them without overlapping activities. The existing staircase materializes as the third module, becoming part of the new system. Four folding doors are in charge of operating the space and building the scenographies for the different uses. Each module is linked to the next by folding these planes that contain the internal circulations between volumes and that transform them into small rooms. Finally, the game of illusion is formalized by incorporating reflections as a material definition of space. The presence of mirrors in the baseboards and upper strips guarantee the lightness of the equipped boxes, transforming them into volumes levitating in space. The doors in their position duplicate the light condition of the environment, pushing back what is ahead. Their complete folding makes the areas independent, ensuring the simultaneity of uses, and offers us through reflection the illusion of seeing things in an identical but inverted manner, the house through the looking glass.

Vivienda a través del espejo / CRUX arquitectos - Interior Photography
© Milena Villalba

Project gallery

See allShow less
About this office
Cite: "Vivienda a través del espejo / CRUX arquitectos" [Vivienda a través del espejo / CRUX arquitectos] 01 Mar 2022. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/976912/vivienda-a-traves-del-espejo-crux-arquitectos> ISSN 0719-8884

© Milena Villalba

镜子住宅,动起来的空间 / CRUX arquitectos

You've started following your first account!

Did you know?

You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.