Today we want to acquaint the reader of Forum City with a private property located in Lima, Peru on a plot of land of 500 square meters, 410 of which is occupied by the house. The architects’ experimental idea was to build a light, spacious and comfortable house in harmony with the urban landscape.
The site’s corner location proved ideal for the project, with the surrounding landscape becoming an integral part of the design. A high fence along the footpath isolates the house from the passing cars, and its absence on the facade widens the courtyard space, so that passers-by can admire the uniqueness of the building.
The property is connected by a walkway which serves as an open veranda below and a handrail at the top.
The main building is quite closed for the climate of the area. Its design didn’t use large windows and stained glass walls, as is fashionable in hot countries. This created shade and coolness inside.
The interior uses mostly stone and glass. There is not much wood, mainly on the stairs leading to the second floor. The wall against which it sits is decorated with a brick masonry façade. Black-and-white furniture and red décor spoils the gray “unfinished” walls.
On the first floor is a spacious living room, kitchen-dining room, study, garage for 4 cars The bathroom is quite modest in size compared to the spaciousness of the rest of the rooms and does not stand out with much finesse. On the second floor are 4 bedrooms and three small bathrooms.
And yet despite the closedness and the small windows, the house is very bright, comfortable and homey.
The courtyard building, surrounded by a garden and a decorative pond called “water mirror” is a recreation area. It is accessible from the street or from the house by a passage on the second floor. The patio, clear and open through, looks more like a beach house. Huge space on the first and second level is probably meant for noisy parties. But even in the daytime it will be very pleasant to sit near a small pool, sheltered from the scorching sun under an umbrella and enjoy the stunning views of the mountains surrounding the hometown.
This solution to use the open space of the second floor or even the roof is not typical of homes in Lima, which is why this project is considered an experiment for the area. It was pretty brave to let your house be so open, given that it is located in the city line.
Photo by Javier Florez.
The Surrounded House by Peruvian Architecture Firm 2.8x Arquitectos seems to boast urban comfort within a busy city like Lima, Peru. With their unique design, I would love to know how this house manages to achieve tranquility and privacy amidst the hustle and bustle of urban life. Is it the clever placement of windows, the interior layout, or perhaps the use of landscaping? Could you provide more details on the specific elements that contribute to the sense of serenity in this urban oasis?