CASA VENTA TEXT

HOUSE FOR SALE (1988) Architect: Enrique Browne Land surface: 450 sq.mt. Built area: 168 sq.mt. Year: 1988

The house to be built for sale had to be reasonably priced and with a maximum of 168 sq.mt. built, since there are tax benefits for dwellings under that size. It also had to have the flexibility to be set in different types of lots. Designing the house as an object - without a site- was particularly uncomfortable since I am used to designing projects very much related to the characteristics of the specific site. The design is based on the Paul Harris Street House (1980 - 1982), since it has a compact, two-level plant, with different orientations. The solution itself has major differences, however, such as a different program, size, flat roofs and other features. The house has front and back views, but not to the sides. It serves the purpose well for narrow lots (up to 18 meters) and with a land surface of up to 450 sq.mt. The dwelling can be located facing north-south, east-west or intermediate locations, because it has a glass corridor which provides plentiful sunlight to the center of the house. The living room, dining room and service areas are on the ground level, while the second floor houses the bedrooms and an informal sitting room as a balcony over the living room. The four bathrooms are located at both ends of the glass corridor. Annexed to this corridor are two roofs and two pergolas, with an inverted geometry. One of these pergolas remains as such, serving as a semi exterior space for the living and dining rooms. The other one has parking down below and the master bedroom above. Eventually the owners could build a loft in this space. Both pergolas would be covered with deciduous vines, to highlight the seasons.