Robledo de Chavela, Spain

 

A project by: Arturo Franco.

The housing development, called Rio Cofio, is located on the outskirts of the village Robledo de Chavela; there at the edge of a cliff, a 1,400 m2 steeply sloped lot overlooks a small river.  The property is accessed by a road that runs right above it.  Directly in front, facing west over the valley, the mountain rises again, creating a natural park that is especially protected.

The site condition makes it possible to create a feeling of "hanging" the house in the middle of the valley, suspended at the top of a tree, almost at the other side, listening the murmur of Cofio River directly below.  

The solution is an iron structure like those of the visionary Russian Constructivists, a work by Tony Carr, a chair by Shapiro, a piece by Max Hill; something heavy and light at the same time; gravity, an issue; the scale, an instrument to work with; a large table or a small ship. The result a linear house with a rise to it. The straight line and an interior staircase with 90 cm. deep steps as in a garden, reuniting all functions.  Below it, a small therapeutic pool, 2 m. wide by 10 m. long.