House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon
09/04/2018.
[Pedasí] Republic of Panama
metalocus, JOAQUIN MINAYA
metalocus, JOAQUIN MINAYA
This house for a violinist is a project for a couple that was looking for a definitely move from the city to the countryside. Located on a hill on the southern Pacific coast, on the Azuero Peninsula, it opens views to the sea and rises above the natural level of the terrain.
Aerial view. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon. Photograph © Fernando Alda
Aerial view. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon. Photograph © Fernando Alda
Exterior view. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon. Photograph © Fernando Alda
Exterior view. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon. Photograph © Fernando Alda
Aerial view. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon. Photograph © Fernando Alda
Exterior view. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon. Photograph © Fernando Alda
Entry. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon. Photograph © Fernando Alda
Interior. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon. Photograph © Fernando Alda
Interior. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon. Photograph © Fernando Alda
Interior. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon. Photograph © Fernando Alda
Stairs. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon. Photograph © Fernando Alda
Interior, stairs. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon. Photograph © Fernando Alda
Interior, stairs. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon. Photograph © Fernando Alda
Interior. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon. Photograph © Fernando Alda
Interior. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon. Photograph © Fernando Alda
Interior. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon. Photograph © Fernando Alda
Interior. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon. Photograph © Fernando Alda
Terrace. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon. Photograph © Fernando Alda
Terrace. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon. Photograph © Fernando Alda
Kitchen. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon. Photograph © Fernando Alda
Bathroom. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon. Photograph © Fernando Alda
Night view. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon. Photograph © Fernando Alda
Night view. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon. Photograph © Fernando Alda
Night view. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon. Photograph © Fernando Alda
Night view. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon. Photograph © Fernando Alda
Site plan. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon
Ground plan. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon
Elevations. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon
Sketch. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon
Sketch. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon
Sketch. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon
Facade detail. House for a violinist by Patrick Dillon. Photograph © Fernando Alda
The house, designed by Patrick Dillon, is organized in an "L" shape. In one of the sides, of north-south orientation, are located the common areas and the patio of entrance to the north; in the other part of the "L", the one facing east and west, are the music studio-guest room, storage and garage.
Description of project by Patrick Dillon
I had known the clients- he a successful businessman and she Panama´s most renowned classical violinist- for several years, having travelled together time and again over a period of months along the Pacific coast of the Azuero Peninsula searching for a site where they could build a home and make a definitive move from the city to the countryside. So when they finally found the hilltop site with a view south to the ocean half a kilometer away, the program had been thoroughly discussed and agreed upon.
We decided that the house should be composed of a large central open living/ dining room space, mezzanine level studio, open kitchen, master bedroom, music studio/guest room, storage and garage.
On that first day, standing on the hilltop thrilling to the sight of humpback whales breaching within swimming distance of the beach, we agreed that the house should open out to the south to the constantly changing spectacle while presenting a more closed, protected courtyard space to the community street.
To that end we decided that an “L” shaped plan would allow us to organize all the communal areas of the house in one leg of the “L”, extending east to west and facing south to the ocean and north to the entrance courtyard. In the second leg, which would extend north to south and face east and west, we would organize the music studio/ guest room, storage and garage. All of these spaces are distributed on a single level above the undulating terrain, partially on a cast in place concrete slab and partially on a timber floor where the house is at a considerably higher elevation than the natural terrain. The central common area, consisting of the main entrance, living room and mezzanine studio, projects upward through the roof in the form of an 8m.x8m.x8m. polycarbonate clad cube.
The facades have been developed in response to their specific and particular orientations. Towards the south and east they are decomposed, with sliding glass doors, open terraces and wooden decks in accordance with the nature of the landscape, while to the north and west minimal openings are provided in concrete block walls to allow discreet views towards the community street and entrance courtyard. These facades are clad with fixed 2”x6” recycled southern yellow pine boards. The west façade facing the entrance courtyard is also clad with these boards. The upper part of the projecting 8m.x8m.x.8m. cube is clad on three sides with polycarbonate panels and on the fourth with glass to allow views south to the ocean.
The structure consists of concrete foundations composed of pedestals, grade beams and concrete slab on grade upon which 6”x6” tubular steel columns and WF 8x15 beams with galvanized steel purlins support a corrugated galvanized steel roof. The interior walls are built with recycled tongue and groove southern yellow pine boards or plastered concrete blocks. Framing for the glazed and mosquito net clad sliding doors have been built with recycled 2”x6” southern yellow pine boards.
More information
Architects
Patrick Dillon.- ENSITU, S.A.
Location
Pedasí, Province of Los Santos, Republic of Panama
Area
460sqm. (including interior and exterior covered spaces)
Clients
Mr. Dany Suaya and Mrs. Graciela “Chelin” Nuñez
Collaborators
Structural Engineer. Mr. Frank Lee.--- Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing Engineer. Mr. César Rodriguez.--- General Contractor. Mr. Adam Caballero.--- Kitchen Furniture Contractor. Mr. Seth Crutcher
Patrick Dillon
Patrick Dillon. Architect and planner, born and raised in Gamboa, where the Chagres River flows into the Panama Canal. After studying, living and working abroad for nearly 25 years, I returned to Panama to work in civil construction before starting my architectural practice- ENSITU. I am also VP of el Colegio de la Tierra, director of Junglewood Design, and co- founder of Estudio Remoto, focused on tropical architecture typically in, with and ultimately for remote communities. I currently live in Panama City with my wife Zoila and our two kids Lucia and Wilson.
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