丨哥伦比亚

Architects:Cinco Sólidos

Area:790m²

Year:2023

Category:Houses

Interior Design:5 Sólidos y Studio KP2

Construction:SAM Ingenieros

Landscape:Arte Natural Paisajismo

Lightning:Estudio Dedós

City:Rionegro

Country:Colombia

Light and architecture in this house engage in a daily dialogue. A place where noble materials and generous spatial arrangements play tribute to the beauty of simplicity.

An evident admiration for monumental and brutalist architecture sparked the conversation and creative possibility between the design studio Cinco Sólidos and Karlos Perez, director and founder of Studiokp2. When making this 780m2 country house in the Colombian mountains 'It was clear that the goal was for the house itself to be a sculpture.’ We decided to keep the design as clean as possible so that when scaling it to large volumes, the materiality wouldn't work against us,' says María José Fernández, co-founder of Cinco Sólidos.

Although the project’s geometry may seem basic and elementary, it is not in its dimensionality or its construction details. From an aerial perspective, two rectangular volumes overlap, creating symmetry where the roofs are treated with the same importance as a frontal facade. 'Design is rarely thought from above, which can result in errors in both visual and finishing aspects. That's why in order to give them the same importance as the other four facades we covered them with natural river stones,' adds María José.

From below and from outside, the aim of maintaining a simple design is evident in the selection of materials: steel, aluminum in facades, and concrete in vertical cladding. A proposal that delineates the interior from the exterior, ensuring the privacy of the internal life of the house. This privacy disappears upon crossing the entrance, where the sensation of volumetric solidity, characteristic of brutalist architecture, dissipates into an ethereal space.

"The smooth communication among all stakeholders set the tone for a trust that unfolded in the honesty of this project. Not everyone dares to live among concrete walls, floors, and ceilings," states the design studio. It is here where the decision to clad the imposing spiral staircase, the adjacent column, the door, and hidden closets of the entrance in American oak veneer was more than apt, as it not only frames the volumetric parallels but also brings warmth to the interior. This amiable effect is emphasized by the furniture selection by Studio KP2, in collaboration with Cinco Sólidos, the textures in large-format cotton rugs, and the linen curtains in the bedrooms."

In this first encounter with the interior of the house, a spacious double-height living room overlooks both the interior and exterior, connecting all the social area, which comprises different spaces; a ten-seat dining room, kitchen, pool, and outdoor lounge. In inhabiting this grand area, it is inevitable to ignore an element that, according to its creators, serves as the central axis of the house. This element is a V-shaped concrete column that submerges into the pool tiled with black Bali stone, not only supporting the upper right wing but also giving the house its identity. "Playing with the structural functionality of the project, we turned it around to make the most of it," adds Daniel Correa, co-founder of Cinco Sólidos."

On this floor, hidden spaces such as a gym that connects with the exterior, a guest bathroom, a home theater, a private bedroom, an auxiliary kitchen with service rooms, and finally, the garage can be found. As one ascends the sculptural staircase, they reach the second floor where the adept management of natural light envelops a hallway that separates the master bedroom from the four secondary bedrooms. "From this hallway, one can see the origin of the vertical columns that repeat as a pattern on the interior part of the main facade. This element, in addition to providing coherence to the building, is an important factor for light management," adds Fernández.

"The sturdiness of this house gives a sense of security, and for me, it also represents how important and beautiful it is to be located in one's own center," states the current inhabitant of this house, with impenetrable exterior and welcoming interior.

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