House in a Walnut Grove / Konkret studio

Location. The project site is hiding between a nut grove and an open hay field. On the front yard of the traditional narrow but long plot of land is an old farmhouse, typical of this area of ​​the settlement. The new house is located in the back of the former courtyard and is accessible by access. When locating the new building, we took into account the possibility of creating a road alongside the arable land, so we pulled the block a little further away from the rear boundary. This had various effects on the design, such as the position of the entrance or the offset and size of the openings. This composition creates a harmonious atmosphere around the house, while the mass fits well in the shaded environment covered with walnut trees.

Concept. Our clients, a family of four, had specific ideas about their needs and unique suggestions on how to reach them. They imagined a low-cost but sturdy one-storey house with a strong connection to the garden. The goal was to make the floor space as small as possible, avoiding unnecessary items. This resulted in a strict spatial organization and with sufficient optimization we can define the miniature but livable space with practical and compact methodological solutions.

the sound. All this ended with a simple proportional volume with an asymmetric sloping roof. The square-shaped solid plan provides a perfect connection between the living and private areas: the bedrooms are located along the north side of the house and the living-dining and kitchen area are to the south. Between the two components is located the axis of the entrance and along the wall of the built-in wardrobe. The kitchen is hidden from access by a closed wooden box containing a guest bathroom and pantry. While the kitchen, living room and dining room are physically separate, they have a strong visual connection.

interior. The intention for simple living and the calm atmosphere determined the use of materials: the polished concrete floor of the substrate and the white plastered walls strengthen the cohesion, with oak furniture combination. These simple spaces perfectly highlight the family “monuments” such as the renovated yellow sideboard, the bench next to the entrance inherited from the ancestors; wardrobe that sets the tone for the parents’ bedroom; A coffee table that was once a bag with various handcrafted textiles.

Multifunctional cover. Finding the right paint for the house was one of the main parts of the planning process. The self-cleaning corrugated black board acts as the perfect coating, sealing out the entire volume. Corrugated fiber cement slate was chosen because of its practicality, simplicity and strong character. The use of this material is an unusual choice in apartment buildings, while it is an ideal material towards the desired complexity. It has a dual role on the house as roofing material and insulated facade covering.

Taking advantage of the material’s properties became the main goal and adding more layers to the design, such as a homogeneous look or a water-resistant corrugated surface, which allowed drainage into the ground rather than the application of cornices. The covered entryway and living room porch are the only interruptions on the fibreboard veneer: the two extracts of the cube shape are warm-colored “bites” lined with pine boards, balancing the rough, industrial property of the black covering. This little black box blends in perfectly with the quiet, shady grove.

Looking back, we can say that through consistent collaboration we were able to create a compact and sustainable home for the family that is at the same time impressive and keeps it simple.