The tower masses were
basically shaped by putting floor volumes of required sizes on top of
each other and then modifying them to suit the steep slope, in order
to minimize excavation. Accordingly, each loft turned out to have a
different layout, namely two duplexes on top and bottom and two
single floor lofts in the middle.
The proposed load bearing
structure is a combination of reinforced concrete foundations +
retaining walls to hold the building securely on the sloping
topography and a recycled steel frame fixed on top to reduce the
number of columns. The structural grid is determined by the parking
adjustment at the ground floor to comply with the strict requirement
to fit 14 cars.
Regarding the requirements
of the program and the limitations of narrow plots, floors were
planned in a rational way to maximize spaciousness and flexibility.
Due to the wide spans of the steel structural grid each floor could
be adequately planned to suit its unique position. In that way, each
apartment plan can be easily modified to fulfill the needs of its
owners / tenants.
Each loft is planned as a
unity of three zones, namely the main “loft” consisting of
kitchen / living / dining areas + master bedroom + study with the
maximum openness, and the two supporting zones that are secluded,
namely the other bedrooms’ area and maid’s area + service
spaces.
Since the mild
temperatures are almost consistent throughout the year in Lima, no
passive or active climate control measures are planned except for
allowing cross ventilation via opening on all façades, ceiling fans
and roller blinds on north façades. Taking the hazy weather into
consideration, no sun breakers were designed.
In order to avoid the
“building effect”, the circulation paths leading to different
apartments are designed as semi open spaces visually connected with
the surroundings. The entrances of towers are planned at ground
floors designed as open garages surrounded with timber slats. Passing
through the transparent entry hall, each loft is accessed through
open vertical circulation halls, which are semi-covered with fire
resistant wood framing. Since the stairs / elevators’ halls are
left open, no additional emergency stairs are deemed necessary.
To maintain the
consistency of the overall design concept, the architectural
differences between the apartment towers are kept at a minimum. The A
and B type towers will differentiate through the slightly different
interpretation of the façade concept. Since the typical towers stand
tightly close to each other due to the spatial requirements and plot
boundaries, the front façades are designed to emphasize the
different positioning of terraces whereas being kept fully
transparent towards the view of the golf course.
The number of façade
materials are kept at a minimum by using only local timber cladding,
prefabricated fiber-cement panels, metal and glass. Colorful
vegetation encircling the façades, terraces and gardens will blend
with the wood louvers and cladding whereas the light colored
fiber-cement planes will clearly stand out to define each separate
flat and tower.
Despite the maintenance of
the fundamental façade and volume composition throughout all towers,
each building, moreover, each flat will eventually distinguish from
its neighbors, thanks to the unique positions of window openings and
the adjustable folding shutters on façades and the enclosing
vegetation individually selected and grown by inhabitants.
Furthermore, several towers are mirror- flipped to fit their parcels
that will add to the subtle distinction of each tower.
The water tanks, the
garbage room and the machinery room of the hydraulic elevators were
planned at the -3. level in a way not interrupting the circulation or
the transparent façade.
The recreation area at the
uppermost corner of the site will be a woodland of different types of
local trees where the surrounding vegetation will visually unite with
the lush scenery of golf course ahead. Considering the dry climate,
local vegetation with the minimum need for watering and maintenance
will be preferred on all common landscaping areas.