Z4Z4's casa tobogan in madrid offers contrasting living environments

in madrid, architecture studio Z4Z4 has completed a multifaceted residential property that juxtaposes different living styles and environments. named ‘casa tobogan’, the dwelling has been designed for a client who wanted a home that reflected their trips around the world, and offered a range of external living spaces. in response, the design team created two almost separate residences — a subterranean domain that spills out onto an outdoor terrace, and an elevated structure that contains plentiful sleeping accommodation. these two levels are connected via a spiral staircase that bridges an intermediate void used to channel light into the areas below.

take a tour of casa tobogan in madrid, spain
all images and video by imagen subliminal (miguel de guzmán / rocío romero)

the two environments offer a stark contrast in terms of materiality, shape and weight. the sunken level — with its natural vegetation and long concrete walls — feels embedded within the terrain, with a central courtyard conceived as a scaled-up greenhouse. the superstructure appears almost cloud-like in form, suspended in mid-air. corrugated iron curtains wrap around the three cylinders that make up the elevated building, while inside are nine rooms with a total of five bathrooms. carefully positioned apertures and terraces overlook the remainder of the property, while airy curtains and bright white walls continue the sense of lightness.

the multifaceted property juxtaposes different living styles

two living levels are connected via a spiral staircase that bridges an intermediate void

the storey at ground level is used for car parking and channeling daylight

the subterranean domain spills out onto an outdoor terrace

a central courtyard is conceived as a scaled-up greenhouse

with its natural vegetation and long concrete walls, the lower level feels embedded within the terrain

the two environments offer a stark contrast in terms of materiality

the elevated superstructure contains the home’s sleeping accommodation

a sheltered area of vegetation

at night, the dwelling glows from within

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project info:

name: casa tobogan
location: madrid, spain
design: may, 2007 – december, 2013
construction: april, 2014 – december, 2015

architects: Z4Z4 AAA
project author: rafael beneytez duran with Z4Z4
architects: rafael beneytez, víctor cano, ophelia mantz
project team: rafael beneytez, víctor cano, ophelia mantz, borja iglesias, elena oña
structural engineering: juan carlos arroyo, ignacio garcía (calter) + rafael beneytez, víctor cano (Z4Z4)
modular system: guillermo martínez, luis martín (eurobox) + rafael beneytez, víctor cano (Z4Z4)
landscaping: martín toimil (land30)
lighting: ilumisa + rafael beneytez, víctor cano (Z4Z4)
facilities: carolo garrote (proyecta!)
photography and video: imagen subliminal (miguel de guzmán / rocío romero)
bioclimatics: ophelia mantz, elena oña
client: private
construction company: mario navarro, santiago ibañez (ars tectónica)
technical architect: alfonso del castillo
area: 512 sqm / 5,511 sqf

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