otto medem arquitectura: el viento residence, madrid

‘el viento’ by otto medem arquitectura, madrid, spain
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia
all images courtesy of otto medem arquitectura

‘el viento’ residence came to be as the result of spanish architect otto medem’s explosive connection to the site upon its discovery. its location on an escarpment in the mountainous villalba area with unabated views of madrid’s mountain range, medem’s practice, otto medem arquitectura, used the site’s natural contours and spectacular sight lines to dictate the arquitectonic qualities of the house as a sequence of discoveries as one moves from room to room. an embracing entrance into the site with concealing white walls dulls the senses before enjoying the fragments of views offered from the interior through the various lenses that frame different parts of the landscape. formally speaking, the dwelling consists of shards of planes that seem to erroneously stretch across the site dynamically colliding into one another resulting in playful nooks and overhangs giving depth to the light and shadows that hide around every corner. the protruding geometries are in reality strategically placed and sized for light or  views that become part of the quotidian events of life.

entrance
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

the entrance foyer is like a pivot that expresses an unexpected vertical space and provides a clear set of options for circulating through the radiating wings of the house. organized around three levels, the upper floor contains the master bedroom and bathroom, the main level on grade houses the kitchen, living room, garage, and smaller bedrooms, and the most social area partially embedded into the site offers access to a living area, sauna, steam room, indoor spa and exterior swimming pool. an imposing boulder found intruding in the middle of the plot was not removed and instead made into a uniting element around which leisure activities are organized, making its presence in the inside as much as the outside and acts as a sort of base around which the dwelling develops. originally designed as a direct result of the site, the post-construction project embraces and enhances the experience of the surrounding natural elements.

view from the mountainside
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

housing elements extend into the landscape
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

(left) nooks created by the intersection of planes
(right) overhangs and cantilevers create areas of shade
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

back deck and pool with integrated boulder
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

poolside veranda
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

front entry
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

windows up high bring in plenty of daylight
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

bright inteiors and reflective hardwood floors
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

kitchen
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

upstairs bedroom
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

stair well with slivers of intense natural light
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

anteroom to the indoor steam room
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

boulder integrated into the design
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

steam room
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

protruding geometries accented with artificial lighting
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

back yard and the nearby town in the distance
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

view from the central boulder and swimming pool
image © antonio terron, otto medem de la torriente and luis h. segovia

floor plan / level 0

floor plan / level 1

floor plan / level -1

elevation

elevation

elevation

concept sketch

project info:

architect: otto medem de la torre
collaborating architects: carlos bernardez agrafojo, laura portillo rodriguez
technical architect: andres garea noguerol
structural calculations: JCR
construction: jesus gomaz amoros
extension builder: peter jozsa
landscape architect: GAP 3
lighting: anos luz
location: collado, villabla, madrid, spain
area: 839.84 m2