Don Juan House

January 24, 2019 | Architecture

Don Juan House by Emilio López Arquitecto

Don Juan House is a modern two level home with picture windows as the entire front and back wall. It is designed by Emilio López Arquitecto, an Ecuador-based architect, who interested in experimenting with natural materials such as wood, metal, and concrete. His architectures have always been marked with a strong reference to the landscape and the expressive possibilities of space.

The house is located near the top of a hill along the coastline. Oriented from east to west, the house opens at both sides. The front is facing the ocean and the back is facing a native deciduous forest. The double-opening allows crossed ventilation and embeds the house into its inhabitants within the surroundings.

The entire structure is made with local wood: Amarillo and Asta. Flat-fibre cement panels cover the shell of the house, while the inner façades are plastered and covered with bamboo, permitting a feel of warm materials within the inside yet not compromising the protection of the exterior of the house.

The concept of the double-opening shaped the architecture, which is conceived as two funnels that converge at one side. 110m2 contain the very simple plan, with two levels of open areas that connect through double-height ceilings. The living room, dining room, kitchen and a complete bathroom are distributed on the ground floor. Two bedrooms facing a double-height ceiling oriented to the ocean occupy the second floor. In the rear façade, another double-height window opens up to the back with the staircase.

Photo by Jag Studio