Description submitted by the project team. The house in the corners: Designing passive and bioclimatic architecture – This project celebrates sustainability and energy efficiency in a multifunctional house with many corners to use. Designed for a couple with a child, this house faces the challenge of a north orientation on its upper side and a west-facing façade. The goal is to create a comfortable, healthy and low-cost living space, taking advantage of every detail inside and out.
The challenge of a north-facing plot – In our region of Murcia the ideal orientation for houses is towards the south or southeast, but this plot forces us to have a north orientation, a obstacle we have paid a bioclimatic design. The strategy is to bring the living areas to the east (living room and kitchen) and organize a floor plan with entrances and exits that create different corners with particular thermal and lighting characteristics. We also take advantage of the covers to support garden terraces and open skylights where additional solar radiation is needed. Connection of interior and exterior: The essence of Mediterranean architecture – In the Mediterranean we traditionally combine interior and exterior spaces, taking advantage of the mildness of our climate. The “house on the corners” follows this philosophy by creating comfortable interior spaces with continuity with the outside through generous windows: Living room and kitchen connect two terraces to the east, bright and warm; the studio and hall with a north terrace, cooler for summer; and the bedrooms with their garden terraces.
Bioclimatic strategies for energy efficiency – The main goal is to maintain a comfortable indoor environment with low energy consumption. We have implemented bioclimatic strategies that allow the house to function passively for most of the year. The first one is the general organization of the house, taking into account the orientation and the exterior, as explained before. But there are others: Garden roofs that not only restore green areas but also act as thermal insulation. The “botijoeffect” of cooling in the summer, using drip irrigation on the roof. Wood carpentry and efficient glass. Solar protection through Mallorcan type shutters. Skylights to increase the penetration of natural light.
Sustainable materials for a healthy environment – At Ecoproyecta we rely on natural materials whenever possible. The “house on the corners” is built with natural thermal insulation, such as cork, and mineral paints. Every detail reflects our quest for healthy and sustainable environments. Landscaping and water management: Nature in every corner – The garden, designed by the landscape designer Paloma Ferrer, becomes an important component. The native species create a fresh and healthy Mediterranean environment, interacting with the architecture and providing shade or playground for each space. Water for irrigation comes from a tank that collects rainwater from the roofs, something important in an area with little rainfall where this resource is scarce.
