Located in Caxias do Sul, in the Serra Gaucha, in the Montalcino condominium, the PH2 house and its 467.74m² stands on a site of 594.56m². The site has a small uncontrolled slope with the sidewalk and a slope towards the back of the land. These two have already oriented a condition for the project in addition to the internal regulations of the condominium.
The difference in level between controlled and the bottom of the land is about 3.5 meters. North solar orientation is at the back of the site, very important in a city with few sunny days, extreme variation in humidity, many days covered by clouds and very tropical rainy days.
The house zones are organized into two floors, social and intimate. Social at the inner courtyard level and intimate at street level. The house appears timidly on the ground, as if it had been there forever, it slightly distorts the natural level of the plot. People have accesses on both levels. Cars descend to reach the garage. On the first floor, at the level of the inner courtyard, are the social living areas, kitchens, laundry, veranda and swimming pool. On the second floor are the bedrooms, office and terrace. The building was completely oriented to the north, the main parts open onto the patio and the sun. Social leisure, bedrooms and veranda overlook the garden and pool.
The need for privacy was another starting point of the project. Sobriety in the openings and a game of plans and volumes that protect the resident and create a reserved atmosphere. The house is a sculpted monolithic block covered by light coatings. It is a rectangular volume over another pure geometric prism. Portions were extracted from the volumes that create spaces for use. Contained terraces, balconies, open balconies, gardens, porch and garage. These extractions create spaces for ventilation, recreation, contemplation and car shelter. The upper volume, all coated in black aluminum, accommodates the coverage for the balcony and garage. The monolithic appearance of the house with subtractions and large blind panels create silent facades parallel to the ground forming screens. Black and white screens.
Coated in vertical sheets of aluminum, sometimes perforated and sometimes plated, which serve to protect the vertical masonry panels and as a “muxarabi” for the upper garden terrace. This perfurated screen creates a veil of privacy for the residents as well as filters light and protects from the wind. It also hides the view from bathroom windows. The cladding evokes the industrial vocation of the city, a metal-mechanic center.
The openings are positioned in places where it provides light and does not reveal the interior of the residence. Such openings in PVC are more generous when they are related to the garden and swimming pool.