House 1736

This project begins with the challenge of qualifying the centre, transforming it into the most prominent space in the house. The new design creates a central area that is more connected to the outside, filled with natural light, and capable of opening and ventilating the entire house – a significant departure from the original configuration. This reimagined central space, although carefully programmed and highly architectural, invites the intensity of the surrounding climate through a roof opening. This atrium bisects the house, creating a more expansive and breathable environment. Its increased height, enhanced natural light, and improved ventilation evoke the atmosphere of an outdoor space within the interior. The verticality of the atrium, along with its zenithal opening, regulates the flow of air and light. Large structural walls are made from a low-cement concrete mix combined with selected sands and gravels and compacted using a technique similar to rammed earth. This method creates a robust, monolithic structure with substantial thermal inertia, while the porous material helps regulate temperature, humidity, and acoustics inside.