“ARCHITECTURE IS THE REACHING OUT FOR THE TRUTH” LOUIS I. KAHN

KASIA HAUS

Benahavís. 2016.

The Kasia Haus is conceived as a reaction to its situation and topography. Perched on top of its land with a resounding presence.

The rugged terrain where the complex is situated has given rise to houses built in disjointed sections set on the hillside producing endless changes in levels and heights. Therefore the house arises as a reaction to its surroundings and in anticipation of the terrain, it generates a box that tries to return to the horizontal as a proposal, rather than the verticality of the topography as a condition. The house adapts itself to its natural surroundings by way of a formal practicality that “avoids” the temptation of following the inclination imposed by nature.

To do this, the house has been designed in reverse, entering through the common areas, but placing the bedrooms on a lower level.   The master bedroom, which is symbolically and convincingly dimensioned, is on the upper level overhanging the swimming pool and interacting with the horizon, and also providing shade to the main living area.  The box stands on top of the bedrooms which appear as a form of stone base which is taken to be part of the ground and which enhances the concept and the box, which appears to be freestanding, as if it were something ethereal, perched there, unattached from the surrounding conditions, imposing its form, its posture, its nature as a lookout point.

MASTER URBAN PLAN

Gaucín. 2011.

Winner of the tender and the firm awarded the project for drawing up the Master Urban Plan for Gaucin, following the Town Hall Ordinance dated 30 January 2004, and given the need for advice and technical assistance for drawing up the Master Urban Plan for Gaucín.

The General Plan for the town was implemented by processing the entire documentation of the Master Urban Plan at its initial approval stage with the perspective of a plan committed to the surroundings and the environment and in strict compliance with the rules and application of planning legislation.

Gaucín is located in the province of Malaga, near the coast, forming part of the Valle del Genal district, in a strategic position linking the Costa del Sol and the Campo de Gibraltar with the Ronda mountain areas, and is therefore an essential element in the communications between provinces and counties.  It covers an area of 98 square kilometres and its population in 2009 was 1929 inhabitants, which gives it a density of 20.23 inhabitants per square kilometre.