Maggies Center Leuven

Cocoon House
Studio 4 A
E. Karanastasi | M. Poponcini Joo Miguel Negro

See Light

See Nature

See People

THE LANDSCAPE AND THE ARRIVAL

The slope which shapes this piece of land is one of the main elements that secures the integration of the project in the landscape. One of the goals is to conceive the building as an object that belongs to the land.

The arrival is made by a ramp that grows from the existing path and goes down to the entrance, announced by a wall of timber battens alternating with thin glass openings, so it would not be too opened on the arrival side of the house: this way, its possible to keep some privacy and to not show all the inner space to the arriving people even before they come inside.

STRUCTURE The structure and the concept of the project are deeply connected. The circles (in plan) are closed by structural walls which are, conceptually saying, the cocoons. Inside the cocoons we find integrated particular spaces, each one with a proper definition. These walls happen to be the shells because they are the solid elements which create an evident separation between the inner and outer space. Between the cocoons, the space is closed by glass walls and, because these are transparent and thin elements, they are defined as skin.

CONCEPT

PROGRAM The circles/cocoons integrate the private and demi-private spaces which have more specific functions as: - Spaces to be alone or with family; - Spaces to read, where bookcases are placed against the wall surrounding all the room; - Space to play music; - Polyvalent space which can integrate several kinds of activities, among interactive ones or others as painting, writing, etc. - Resting room/bedroom; - Working office; - Living room where people can sit, talk, watch TV. Because this particular space has a common function, it is completely opened to the central space, which integrates the entrance, the dinning room and the kitchen these are the truly common spaces and so they are opened to the outer landscape thanks to the skin elements.

PROGRAM

1 Dinning Room
2 Reading Space/Music Room 3 Polyvalent Space 4 Living Room 5 Space for one person 6 Space for 5 people 7 Kitchen 8 Resting Room/Bedroom

9 Working Office
10 Inner Garden

CIRCULATION One of the goals is to secure that the inner walls dont touch the boundaries. This means that even the private spaces can be opened if they are not needed, and when they are they can be closed. When they are opened its possible to walk around the cilinders and around all the inner space: this creates a fluid circulation and improves interaction between spaces.

The example of Casa das Canoas of Oscar Niemeyer is useful to show the meaning of the glass screen. It provides light and proximity with the outer space. The nature is invited to come inside the house and theres almost no separation between the inside and the outside. Oscar Niemeyer, Casa das Canoas, Brazil The roof is the main solid element of the house and it creates covered outer spaces where people can sit and stay.

INNER SPACES
1. Sketch of the view from the central common space to the living room. 2. Skecth of the view from the reading Space to the central common space. 3. Sketch of the space for one person.

1.

2.

3.

The spaces to be alone or with family:

The importance of having a window there so it will not feel like a punishment place.

Feeling like at home.

Comfort.

The experience of the inner and outer-covered space. The light and the nature coming inside the house through the glass screens.

MATERIALS The exterior coating of the cylinders would be made with vertical corrugated steel sheets/panels. The other boundaries, as it was said before, would be made with glass. In the particular case of the entrance, vertical battens of timber alternating with glass would be placed. This difference of materials and transparency allows not only to create different spaces but also to create different light incomings.

The solid cocoons and the thin glass screen.c

Proximity to Nature

Serenity

Freedom

FEEL GOOD
Contact Happiness

Not closed spaces fluidity of circulation

Interaction

Comfort

Light