House 3 - Isabela, Puerto Rico
House 3 is the design of a 7000 square feet four bedroom residence. Located near the ocean behind sand dunes, the house required a three story structure to maximize views. The elongated plan resulted from the intention of not blocking views for rear lot residences in the complex. The house, placed over a plinth, separates public and private by placing the private domain in the ground floor and the public domain in the upper two floors. The private realm is articulated as a base while the public domain is conceived as a series of floating horizontal elements, one that manifests as an extruded frame/box, the other expressed as a solid block. One being longer than the other due to sectional manipulations, they are connected by two vertical walls that create a spatial asymmetrical interlock. Through both frame and block the view is revealed and substantial terrace and balcony are integrated with the interior spaces to allow for an extension of the living areas out into the exterior, maximizing the tropical weather ambiance. The theme of the frame is further studied as the floor and roof slabs are cut out in order to bring in zenithal light and expose the beautiful blue tropical sky. These openings also allow for visual communication amongst the three levels, expanding space not only in the horizontal dimension but also in the vertical.
The program in the first floor accommodates bedrooms and servant spaces, the second floor, kitchen and dining rooms, and the third floor, living and family rooms. Exposed concrete is the primary material for both interior and exterior to establish a dialogue between the gravity defying structure and the heaviness of the material in itself. In order to add a sense of warmth to the home, wenge wood is incorporated into the furniture, wall surfaces, and stairs. The open space plan allows for cross ventilation and the eleven feet high ceiling provides clerestories to ventilate hot air rising.
