The building of the marina was to be combined with a house for a large family. However, this concept posed a problem since the building’s location is set along a coastal strip—by law a common space—this made it impossible to create a separate and private zone there.
Then I came up with the idea of making an artificial plot that would overhang the site, right on the property boundary. There we placed the house with its closest surroundings, and below it—within the proper area—we located a marina with a storage for water sports equipment and a pier for mooring boats. The upper plot can connect to the lower section by a loft ladder that meets the pier when lowered.
The building thus uncharacteristically combines two spaces: a publicly accessible marina with a private plot and a summer house.
When the owners are present, the entire property can be accessed. When the residents and their guests leave, the upper plot remains just roofing for the marina and is inaccessible to the public.
A mobile solution such as being able to lower/raise the stairs means that the operation and accessibility of the building can be changed quickly. It works similarly to the drawbridge in Konieczny’s Ark, where the living space also levitates above the site.
Initially, the house was to be surrounded by greenery and a section of elevated artificial beach. However, the owners asked us to use wood decking because, due to the home’s seasonal use, they were afraid of grass being up to their waist when they would arrive after a long stint away.
We have designed the first floor with articulating walls so that residents can carve out private spaces for themselves depending on how many people will be sleeping there.
Although the house on the elevated plot is still under construction, the marina is already being used by local residents.