At first glance, the pavilion displays an
ambiguous form of vernacular construction and a deliberate modern building.
Settled in Casablanca Valley sitting on top of
a hill, surrounded by vineyards and crowned by an old twisted
mesquite tree, the building adopts the solemnity of an ancient settlement.
Two massive
raw volumes are set apart by an equivalent vacant volume. The
roof, a monolithic pyramidal shape, is carefully placed on top of the
layered concrete walls, connecting both massive bodies.
The large
terrace where the old mesquite tree stands is exposed to the vast and limitless
views to the valley. An ellipse of stones and flowers delimit the
near landscape where three concrete platforms emerges geometrically.
The rooms are organized in a sequence of contrasting spaces, each one
offering different experiences and qualities of light.
The narrow
entry patio, shaded by the tall walls, frames dramatic views to the sky. Moved
by a soft wind, a light veil of water shimmers over a black
concrete block .
The living space is subtly
illuminated and intimate. A wide panoramic window frames the view to the
vineyards.
Two wooden doors lead to the light flooded wine
tasting room. A 6m cypress slab lies in front of floor to ceiling
glazing which fuses the edge between in and out. The glass exposes the old
contorted mesquite tree, like a relic in a museum display.
Perhaps the most expressive
element is the sharp edged concrete slab which makes the roof seems like a
weightless plate.
The last room to the east is
the quincho, a walled patio with an olive tree in the center.
A notch in the corner exposes the landscape and the distant city beyond the
massive walls
To the south, the
kitchen, a space the same size of the dining room has been pushed into the hill
with a singular view to the vines below.
The
concrete was made on site in small quantities, only enough to pour the
footprint of each volume incrementally. When completed, the walls
reveal the impact of the different weather conditions through out the
construction process. The result is a layered, with light variations in
color and texture, derived from a hand crafted process.
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