t3arc builds the concrete casa materka around a piano

t3arc builds the concrete casa materka around a piano
image © luis gordoa
all images courtesy of prentiss architects

typically through this medium we experience buildings visually in frozen snapshots. this time around, we have the rare opportunity to visit t3arc‘s ‘casa materka’ in a slightly different way. being a house for a pianist, we are able to enjoy the space not only visually but we also get to feel it filled with sound- so I invite you to press play and feel the architecture as you take the tour through the home.

the home was built with a simple concept in mind- to allow the owner to play the piano without disturbing the neighbors, so it can be said that the home is truly built around the piano. the entire site is enclosed within two large masonry walls of natural stone, not unlike a fortress. no views of the outside are transmitted through these walls, instead they are canvases that catch shadows and sunlight throughout the day. their most important function however is to act as acoustic barriers.  large cast concrete beams frame a regular grid that makes up the primary structure, with natural brick infill for the walls.

image © luis gordoa

front entrance and walkway to the center of the home
image © luis gordoa

two bedrooms, a media room, and living room take on a rather rustic feel. the ground level is mostly open with the entire second story supported by the outer stone walls. the living room is sunken into the ground, wrapped in maneuverable glass panels that allow the space to be used for concerts, individual practice, or even group lessons. with the panels closed, the space is acoustically intimate. hard surfaces reflect sounds and add depth to the music. when opened, sound is free to travel unobstructed to the outer extents of the site in essence extending the area that amplifies the sound of the piano. the rough texture of the walls help dissipate sound waves so they cannot be heard loudly from outside the property. 

image © luis gordoa

in a protected environment, each room of the house takes on the feeling of an exterior space through the use of opaque and transparent materials. the relationship of spaces on the horizontal plane is just as strong as the relationship on the vertical. stacked rooms contain lines of site that visually connect them through voids in the floors, ceilings and walls.

(left) stairs to the upper level
image © luis gordoa

second story bedroom
image © luis gordoa

large cast concrete beams support the entire upper level so as to eliminate columns or walls on the ground floor
image © luis gordoa

bridge to the master bedroom
image © luis gordoa

image © luis gordoa

large glass doors open to the exterior patio
image © luis gordoa

master bedroom
image © luis gordoa

bathroom
image © luis gordoa

bedroom and bathroom
image © luis gordoa

a curious duality is created within the home, as the structure contrasts heavily with the elements that make a house livable. recycled wooden floors add warmth to the hard, textured surfaces that define every element of the design. its precisely all the imperfections of the surfaces, the rough edges, grooved slabs, and rumpled mortar that give the design such character- each space almost feels like a private exterior courtyard with the luxuries of a house.

image © luis gordoa

living room with a backdrop of shadows
image © luis gordoa

enclosed yard
image © luis gordoa

image © luis gordoa

bedroom space at night
image © luis gordoa

living room area at night
image © luis gordoa

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project info:

project: casa materka
location: privada san gabriel no 45 fraccionamiento residencial  san ángel
city: puebla méxico
built area: 220m2
site area:  220m2
owner: radek materka
architect: alfredo cano briceño,  t3arc taller de arte y arquitectura.
collaborators: patricia torres y alberto campos at t3arc.
photography:   luis gordoa