The post D Flat by Virginia Malami in Vouliagmeni, Athens was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The gradual ascent through the main staircase leads the visitor to the main open space facing the Amvrakikos gulf. The alignment and unification of the interior and exterior surfaces “opens up” the house to the unrestricted view towards the sea and the city of Amfilochia in the northwest.

The unobstructed and continuous connection with the horizon was the main principle towards the design and placement of the openings in the shell of the building. At the same time, the use of rectangular glass frames creates a transparency that aims to unify rather than separate.

The external space develops linearly as an extension of the internal space and the landscape develops linearly as an extension of the external space. The creation of spatial depth redefines the concept of interior – exterior, thus providing the feeling of being in a floating boat, constantly in motion.

The fragmentation of the clarity of the spatial boundaries and the integration of the movement of the elements of nature, frees the built space from the fragmentary perception of static points (corners, landscape, view) while the daily family activity is integrated and unfolds in a parallel way along with the alternations of the natural landscape.

This perpetual alternation of landscape, colors, light, shadows, shapes, led to the design attempt of integrating the space in the environment and not following a design approach towards a strict creation of visual frames, following a clear separation of private – public space.

The landscape is not approached as an exhibit in the eyes of visitors but the built space itself acts as a complement and is modestly exposed to this constant and alternating movement of the sea and the sky.

In this spirit, the main materials used were wood (oak), glass, metal, following a strict logic incorporating the concepts light – shadow (black – white).

Eliza Papadopoulou, Georgios Pontikas

The post Loft Design in Amfilochia was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The building is defined from a structural frame that organizes the spaces and the different parts of the program, as well as the facade itself.

The main parts of the house are concentrated on the first floor, leaving the ground floor for access and multipurpose space. On the first floor, the house is organized divided into three strips; the two opaque sides, understood as container walls for use, house the service and private parts, while the central strip is understood as a free space that is projected outwards.
The ground floor contains the main entrance, the access staircase, services and two large porches. The first one is for entrance and parking, and the second one, understood as another space in the house, another multipurpose living-dining room in relation to the garden and the pool.
The materiality of the building is reduced to the use of concrete as an expressive element of the construction system. Exposed concrete in structure and concrete bricks in facades, which also enter the interior.

Nordest Arquitectura

FilippoPoli

The post House in Vilablareix was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

A new work of public infrastructure, the Lange Erlen pumping station is aligned to the main axis of the site and leaves space for future expansion. Under the projecting roof of the entrance façade, a concrete fountain transforms first into a bench and stairs and further along into a wheelchair-accessible ramp.

The interior spaces are built with gentle, polished curves in emulation of glacial mills. These curves also give shape to the large skylight in the foyer. A generous staircase winds up around the light by the artist Madlaina Lys to the building’s true centrepiece: the observation deck, from which visitors have a view over the extensive pumping facility.

Staehelin Meyer Architekten

The post Pumping Station in Basel was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The house, built in a town in south Bavaria, is located in a north-south oriented narrow inclined property, surrounded by old trees, in-between two listed villas from the beginning of the 20^th century.

For better integration of the new building, plaster facing, prominent in both adjacent listing buildings, was used on the entire façade, using a custom-made mixture that was approved by the preservation authorities, and applied by hand by a local church plasterer, using a trowel.

The hexagonal layout resulted from the side distances prescribed by the building regulations. To stage the faraway view to the Andechs monastery, over the Ammersee lake, the building volume is raised in a tower, over the trees. To increase the lofty feeling, the living room was designed on the top floor, with an oversize opening. The kitchen, being the center of everyday family life, is connected to the garden on the ground level.

Great attention was given to large surfaces with untreated materials. Following the idea of a simple, sustainable construction, this is a brick building, without additional insulation. The selected energy profile is kfW 55, without artificial ventilation. Shading is achieved with deep openings, without any other solar protection.

The design was a collaboration between the owner, Andreas Schwab, who holds a degree in architecture while being employed as a product designer, and Huber architectural office.

Architekturbüro Huber

The post Schwab House was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The house targeted by the intervention is located in the municipality of Vallirana. It is a municipality born around the historic road between Barcelona and Tarragona, with an eminently suburban plot in its central core.

The main growth takes place in the remaining space between the road and the stream, which run parallel. The buildings, therefore, have two well-differentiated facades. On the west façade, the building is alienated from the road, with a vertical façade and occasional balconies on the road. On the east façade, on the other hand, the building adapts to the topography, by means of a step, until it reaches the level of the old orchards and the stream, where we currently find an urban park.

The existing building is located between shared walls to the north and south and opens to the east and west, the stream and the street respectively. This is a late 19th century building. The original horizontal structure consists of wooden slabs and ceramic vault, while the vertical structure consists of a perimeter masonry wall and a central ceramic pillar. This provision, in which a large central space is generated, suggests that the original use could have been linked to an industrial or commercial use, and not to housing.

The house object of the intervention is located on the first floor, main floor. It has been the subject of several actions adapting its structure to that of a conventional 90’s house with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a segregated kitchen and a living-dining room. The night area and bathrooms are segregated from the day area and are placed on the west side, open to the street. The day area is located on the east façade opening onto the terrace.

The intervention tries to make the most of the location of the building. A series of parallel strips are proposed that recognize the historical system of growth of the building and the differences in character of the facades. From West to East, we find a first strip of three rooms that serve as bedrooms and studios, a strip of services with bathrooms and dressing rooms, a strip with a single open room that houses the kitchen and living room, and a last strip of gallery where the dining room is located.

The doors are always facing each other in such a way as to allow cross-views between the two façades, achieving light inside throughout the morning (east façade) and in the afternoon (west façade).

The intervention has also recovered the vertical openings of the rear façade, giving continuity to the gallery space with the exterior terrace. Work is also being carried out on this façade, recovering the original system of blinds and placing unique skylights in the openings to signify them.

The house is intended to be used by a single user, with the possibility of having a second or third bedroom at certain times. For this reason, the rooms on the west façade are treated as open elements, which can easily be converted into a study or office as appropriate. The main rooms, on the other hand, avoid closures due to the lack of need for privacy and allow the space to be enjoyed in its entirety.

The intervention is used to improve the thermal behavior of the home through passive air conditioning strategies. Because the use of the house will be mainly in warm months, we work with the thermal inertia of the building, avoiding all unnecessary interior cladding. The arrangement of the openings also allows cross-ventilation of the house, achieving a feeling of freshness without external energy input.

Laos Arquitectura

The post Dwelling refurbishment in Vallirana was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.