We were commissioned a house design on a plot of land overlooking Guatemala City's valley. An amazing view is the main feature of the site.
This residence is an exercise on light floating structures… The owner wanted a house that was “floating on top of the ground, in the midst of the view”. We therefore complied with a roof enclosure that lightly rests atop selected walls and columns in order to achieve the desired effect. The lines of the house (all horizontal) complement the horizon.
The lightness of the house is contrasted with the roughness of exposed concrete walls and oxidized steel panels.
Our client stated in her brief her desire to have a house that felt like it could float.
We proposed a folding concrete structure on which rests a very light steel structure and roofing system (all of which floats on top of an open air living room / garden).
