"The architecture function must solve materiality concerns without forgetting the spiritual needs of man" Arq. Luis Barragán.
Casa MD was born from the need to combine two houses into one. Originally, the project had two twin houses that share distribution and measurements of approximately 75 m2 each. Our goal was to seamlessly unify them as one and avoid any space that would reveal their original state.
It was a challenge to blend these very defined and squared layouts and made them work as a whole. The walls restricted recreation and contemplation activities. Nonetheless, by ¨freeing¨ the space from these constraints we were able to reach the desired spatial unity.
Also, an important goal was to provide the user with spaces of comfort and relaxation. A refuge to free one's mind from daily life matters. Hence, the program comprises areas to read, relax, do gardening, and meditate. This is what defines the character of the project.
The interior patio is a fundamental element of the house. It provides natural light to all areas, natural ventilation to refresh the living spaces with new and constant air, and most importantly, it articulates the house horizontally and vertically with a natural and free volume. Naturally, the patio becomes a vital visual element, that creates freshness and provides a sense of openness inside the house.
The materials and finishes coexist without competing with each other, each area is defined by assigned functions and colors. As a result, there is a vibrant pallet of intense, neutral, and calm colors depending on where are they located. This creates interesting results when you contemplate how they accompany each other and the atmosphere they create when someone is inhabiting the space.
Silence flows through the house with the soft breeze of the wind, in the morning the sun bathes the interior walls with light and feeds energy to the plants that await its rays of light. I hear the birds sing, sometimes go down to prowl among plants, where they hide from the sun in the bushes. At night the moon bathes the interior of the patio like a fine silk sheet and crickets can be heard singing perhaps asking the moon to stay a moment longer.