Firmness - A house is an Environmental Filter
- Climatic Filter
The building absorbs quite a lot of sun in the morning which makes the house gain heat, this can be very comforting throughout the colder months of Portugal. Throughout the warmer months, the earth cools the house down as half of the interior space is plugged into the ground.
Casa Tolo also has a natural and rather ingenious design feature , Alvaro implemented 1m square concrete pavers for added weather protection and thermal insulation.
- Micro Environment
The architect embraced it using the slope as the home's main characteristic. The home begins at the top of the hill and slowly reveals itself as you descend down the outdoor staircase.
Each room spills onto a concrete roof, becoming a terrace which is concieved as an outdoor garden room. This provides several outstanding views of the mountain leaving you thinking your apart of it.
The choice of exposed concrete creates an idea like that of massive stones appearing naturally on the site. Expressiveness is extracted from a continuous structure of reinforced concrete.
- Macro Environment
The building faces north and allows it to receive optimal solar exposed throughout the day, also leaving you to enjoy a particular natural view.
Sunrise shines through at an angle to heat up the house and as the orientation of the sun progresses the direct light shines down on the pavers.
References
Feireiss K & L 2006, Architecture of Change.
Sustainability & humanity in the built environment, London.
Fundacao de Serralves 2009, jorgetsvaresmsn youtube video,
viewed on 20 March 2010, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJqEnZHK_Ys
Pearson, Clifford, A 2006, 'In northern Portugal, Alvaro Leite Siza Vieira cascades Casa Tolo down a steep slop through terraced gardens, Architectural Record, vol. 198, issue 4, pp. 128-135.
Casa Tolo 2005, A Weekly Dose of Architecture, New York,
viewed 13 March 2010, http://www.archidose.org/May06/050806.html
Casa Tolo 2004, Concrete,
viewed 13 March 2010, http://www.concrete.net.au/CplusA/issue5/casa.php
World Changing, 2009, Architectural gem of the day: Casa Tolo,
viewed 25 March 2010 http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/008408.html
FG+SG 2006, Alvaro Leite Siza Vierira,
viewed 12 March 2010, http://www.fernandoguerra.com/tolo/
Feireiss K & L 2006, Architecture of Change.
Sustainability & humanity in the built environment, London.
Fundacao de Serralves 2009, jorgetsvaresmsn youtube video,
viewed on 20 March 2010, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJqEnZHK_Ys
Pearson, Clifford, A 2006, 'In northern Portugal, Alvaro Leite Siza Vieira cascades Casa Tolo down a steep slop through terraced gardens, Architectural Record, vol. 198, issue 4, pp. 128-135.
Casa Tolo 2005, A Weekly Dose of Architecture, New York,
viewed 13 March 2010, http://www.archidose.org/May06/050806.html
Casa Tolo 2004, Concrete,
viewed 13 March 2010, http://www.concrete.net.au/CplusA/issue5/casa.php
World Changing, 2009, Architectural gem of the day: Casa Tolo,
viewed 25 March 2010 http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/008408.html
FG+SG 2006, Alvaro Leite Siza Vierira,
viewed 12 March 2010, http://www.fernandoguerra.com/tolo/
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