Competition: Rammed Earth House
Componentes da Equipe: Antonino Demétrio, Hugo Fortes, Jéssica Castro
CABIN IN THE WOODS
The proposed project comes from a discussion about solitude and reclusion through architecture and the imposing aspect of rammed earth construction. Taking advantage of the forest surrounding, its climate and mood, and of the proximity with the existing infrastructure, the cabin seeks to visually seclude itself from the other buildings. There are no openings to that side, neither are there any indication of what it is. When standing among the existing houses, an observer can only see an imposing, monolithic rammed earth wall. As they walk around the forested area, the cabin starts to reveal itself, showing a typology that befits the century-old style of the site’s constructions.
The linear plan of the house attempts to get the most out of the view of the enclosed forest from different spots and angles. From the south, more window openings provide sunlight to all living areas; from the north, an angled cut on the otherwise simple rectangular shape allows for an opening facing the other side of the woods and for a place to stay outside and contemplate, while still under the cabin’s roof. This roof follows the regular rectangular shape and is built in a traditional way, as it is on the nearby buildings, so that no more complex solutions are needed for the construction other than the rammed earth itself for the walls, as the house uses concrete slabs and light wood finishes.
The cabin sits on three slightly different levels, going a bit lower than ground level as one goes from the entrance and kitchen, to the living room, and then to the bedroom. By doing so, two steps are added between the levels, allowing for different possibilities and uses; acting as nightstands by the bed or as places to sit near the fire in the living room. Also, taking part of the reduced net area, other construction elements have new functions and parts on the layout of the house: the concrete window sill is larger so it acts also as a counter; the dining table on the kitchen is movable so it can have more seats; the bed’s headboard works as a side table for the living room and as a dresser for clothes.
