House 30, Apan Housing Laboratory

Project Details

Project Description

This project is part of the Apan Housing Laboratory, which is featured in the August 2019 issue of ARCHITECT.

FROM THE ARCHITECTS:

This prototype configures a series of modules toward the potential for multidirectional (vertical and horizontal) expansion. Windows, doors, and construction methods are standardized, allowing for easy expansion to accommodate changes in family structure, business needs, etc. Horizontal arrangement of unit modules—appropriate where significant space is available—is able to link a natural, rural context to domestic life through flexibly sited patios. Double-wall construction assists with passive heating and cooling while full-height windows and doors within each module maximize cross-ventilation no matter the prevailing wind direction.

Notes: Compact and focused inward around its ground-level courtyard while simultaneously allowing views outward from its second-floor patio and windows, this project foregrounds a relation to its context. Horizontal expansion of its base unit occurs in staggered rows or clusters, gathering entrances to create small-scale communal spaces. (Here, a less social single unit might produce significant sociality when expanded.) The house’s primary elements are its standardized construction materials, concrete and brick, which are thoughtfully applied toward passive heating and cooling in thick walls and deep window reveals.

Project Details:
State: Baja California
Municipality: Tecate
Climate: Temperate Dry
Constructed Surface: 40.43 M2
Floor-to-ceiling height: 2.60 M
Roof Type: Flat; Shed
Orientation: —
Growth Option(s): Vertical
Wall Type: Ceramic Brick
Floor Type: Concrete Slab
Structure: Concrete Columns; Joist and-beam Slabs; Ceramic Brick Walls
Roofing: Joist and Beam
Details: —
Finishes: —

Project Credits:
Project: Apan Housing Laboratory
Architects: CRO Studio