Orchid House / Andres Remy Arquitectos

26
Nov 2009
By Nico Saieh — Filed under: Houses , Selected , Andres Remy Arquitectos, Argentina,
Concrete

Architects: Andres Remy Arquitectos

Location: Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Project Team: Andrés Remy, Hernán Pardillos, Paula Mancini, Lucila Lopez, Julieta Rafel,
Lilian Kandus, Coral Banegas
Site Area: 3,640 sqm
Project Area: 465 sqm
Project Year: 2008
Photographs: Alejandro Peral

The Orchid was a challenging project, committed by a young couple with two sons, enthusiastic
about sustainable architecture. After consulting several architects, they gave the commission to
Andrés Remy, who had investigated these concepts in New York at Rafael Viñoly’s Studio for
four years.

Sustainability implies a lot of varieties, such as efficient and rational use of energy and water,
natural ventilation and lighting, and low-environment-impact materials.

site plan

The house has the best orientation, possible thanks to the large lot.

The concept came from the client’s hobby, growing orchids. The house is based on the different
parts of the orchid: the roots, the stem and the flower.
sections 01

The sun rays impact in the interior of each room, were also studied, to determine the optimal
depth to place the windows. This gives a unique volumetric outcome to the project. Taking
advantage of sun rays in winter increases the interior temperature up to a comfortable level. The
design includes glazed volumes with good thermal insulation and small windows in the worst
orientation, such as the south facade.

The windows consist of aluminum frames supplied with thermal bridge breaker and double-
hermetic-glass. A wide variety of insulating materials were also used, as well as water based
paint and wall and roof air chambers.

In the lower floor, the convenient location of the opening windows allows natural air flow
helping to decrease the humidity in the room. What’s more, the big thresholds create a good
distribution of fresh air.

All this, gives account of the complexity of the house, a glass and concrete flower, designed
according to a program of needs and the client’s concerns.
 site plan

lower floor plan

 upper floor plan

lower plan sun diagram

upper plan sun diagram

lower ventilation plan

upper ventilation plan

sections 01

sections 02

sections 03

sketch 01

sketch 02