Folding Walls, Patio Single Family Houses

Photograph by John Marshall.

Project Details

• Programme: Patio Single Family Houses
• Plot Surface: 2.664 m²
• Buildings Surface:611 m²
• Location: Groningen
• Client: Nijestee Vastgoed
• Constructor: Bam Wilma BY
• Engineers: Dijkhuis
• Installations: J.P. Van Der Weele
• Budget: Euro 655,300
• Principal Architects: Helena Casanova, Jesus Hernandez
• Collaborators: Thomas Vooges, Hung Tran, Judith Hernandez, Daniel Forteza Rey, Sophie Pfeiffer, Paul Verhoeff
• Date Of Completion: 2005

Words from the designer

"Within an enclosed intimate urban courtyard (near the downtown area), limited by detached housing and a green area, three freestanding "patio-villas" and a small playground area had to be built."

Photograph by Van Der Vlugt.

Photograph by John Marshall.

"The 'Folding the Wall' proposal seeks to colonize the space between built elements, gardens, garages, storage spaces and nature by using a 'flexible' element; that will help design not only the new individual houses, but also the private, semi-public and public spaces that surround them."

Photograph by John Marshall.

"This strategy will help avoid building three free-standing housing with no connection whatsoever with their surroundings.

A wooden wall folds itself to create the villas, the patios, gardens and urban elements, enclosing different spaces with different 'atmospheres'."

Photograph by John Marshall.

Photograph by Christian Richters.

"It defines an 'interior landscape', sheltered from the urban life.

The villa contains a sculptural volume that shelters the kitchen, bathrooms and storage rooms. This 'sculpture' faces a double height living room."

Photograph by John Marshall.

Photograph by John Marshall.

"The living room can be completely open towards the patio and the garden in summertime, becoming part of the outside landscape.

Between the core and the skin of the house exists a continuous, flexible and limited space. This space will be designed according to the specific requirements of each future user."

Credits

• Text by Casanova + Hernandez Architects
• Photographs by John Marshall (www.johnlewismarshall.com), Christian Richters, Van Der Vlugt, Courtesy of Casanova + Hernandez Architects
• Compiled and Edited by Varun M Ajani