Casa Laredo
The home is the center of a house,that place where the elements that make it up come together. The center refers to what gives life to a space, In Casa Laredo, this center is the garden,an area that functions as the very core of the house, this concept is achieved through framing and defining that principle that stars and offers the very experience of the space.
The design of this project is articulated around the idea of creating a residence that works as two, a guest house and another for the family, managing to unite the spaces by connecting them with a common element: in this case that element is the circular garden that separates the two independent blocks, that is why an architectural structure with a hybrid construction system of wood, concrete and Steel is born, reflecting the synthesis of the house.
One of the main challenges was dealing with strict US regulations,which imposed very clear guidelines. However, it was possible to overcome these limitations by implementing simple gestures within a complex system, in short; uniting pure geometries such as prisms and circles, The sum of these basic elements with a clear arrangement, allowed to create a vibrant and lively proposal, within the established parameters. The choice of local materials, such as limestone masonry quarried from the site itself and structural timber from the region, lends an ingrained identity to the project. Although we sought to challenge the formal standard of the area, we also tried to integrate the house with its surroundings, blending in with the context.
The creative process in architecture involves understanding and assimilating existing standards, without allowing them to become a constraint. Casa Laredo exemplifies how it is possible to tackle this task successfully, creating a work that defies convention without losing its connection to the community and the environment that surrounds it.