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Field and enclosure: Beyond object-ness, a good house

Part 2 Project 2015
William Burgess
 London Metropolitan University | UK
Beyond object-ness is the interest in the space between objects rather than a focus on the objects themselves. When designing a building this is interpreted as considering the relationship between: one room with another; the tectonic elements of a building’s construction; the building and the landscape.

In Evora, Portugal, Alvaro Siza designed fields of low-rise, high-density patio houses, laid as mats over the local topography forming the estate of Malagueira. Here several key, disparate elements are knitted together, while achieving a feeling of deliberate incompleteness. The architectural infrastructure of the overhead conduit acts as a spine to the city, a continuous element between the singular house and collective buildings, helping define a larger scale.

Several existing farmhouses were retained and embedded in the urban fabric of the new district. In my proposal two new farmhouses are built next to an existing one, creating a family of buildings with enclosed spaces between them. Both new houses are to accommodate the gardeners working in Malagueira and have bold, public facades, which look over the landscape of urban and rural fields. The interior of the front house is a large hall enclosed by smaller dwellings and workshops, as with a small public square.


Tutor(s)
Prof Florian Beigel
Mr Philip Christou
2015
Two public facades looking across the landscape. A family is formed with an existing farmhouse. A new field of vines held by columns make a relationship with the ‘Quinta’ orange grove.
Life line: a walk from Praca di Giraldo to Malagueira, Évora, Portugal. Malagueira lacks publicness and a connection to Évora. 5 proposed interventions along the life line.
Two red houses: a proposal along the life line in Malagueira. A landscape of patio houses and fields.
Two facades overlooking a landscape of fields.
Two proposed houses form a family with the existing farmhouse. The house, barchessa and conduit enclose a courtyard with a tree. Each courtyard is an outdoor room.
A terracotta block facade of fields. The exaggerated features of the public facade are seen from afar. House and occupant look over the landscape. Both houses are built on top of existing walls planned by Álvaro Siza. The front house is built on top of an
The courtyard, enclosed by the two houses and the extended conduit. The Quinta orange grove is visible through the opening under the conduit. This working yard has a public quality with the elevations of the houses, barchessa and the entrance canopy all a
Fields of terracotta blocks and partially enclosed rooms. Ground floor plan. Small houses around a large public room.
Construction of the enclosure: A permanent construction of terracotta blocks and in-situ concrete. A temporary construction of timber stairs, roof, floors and platforms. Materials are left raw and unfinished. Concrete lintels extend past window openings a
Small houses around a large room, red public facades addressing a town square.
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