In the serene embrace of nature, the House of Cork Trees II emerges as an architectural ode to simplicity and light. Designed by Urbanpolis, this dwelling seeks to unite formal simplicity with rigorous construction, crafting a daily experience where interior and exterior intermingle seamlessly. Two principal axes orchestrate the spatial experience, each contributing to the house's harmonious balance.
The transverse axis, welcoming visitors with a gentle embrace, is marked by an interior courtyard that channels natural light into the core of the abode, elevating the corridors and passageways. Meanwhile, the longitudinal axis, oriented towards the southern garden, ensures a perpetual dialogue with the outside world, guiding residents towards the upper-level sanctuaries. These axes define a clear system of fullness and voids, transparencies and opacities, elegantly structuring the interplay between social and private realms.
On the ground floor, social spaces unfurl in an open embrace to the garden, transforming it into a natural extension of the living and culinary areas. The open space, bathed in light from expansive glazed panels, reinforces the concept of continuity, fostering familial interactions and the experience of living. This spatial relationship is further accentuated by the suspended upper volume, which crafts shaded alcoves, providing thermal comfort and enhancing the outdoor experience.
Ascending to the upper floor, private sanctuaries are arranged along a longitudinal gallery, illuminated by a vertical void that connects the two floors, bestowing an aura of expansiveness and luminescence. The balconies and recesses in the bedrooms ensure privacy without sacrificing the ethereal light that permeates every chamber. The main entrance, subtly situated on the side, invites a gradual discovery of the house's volume, enhancing privacy and valorizing the architectural journey.
The south-facing facade, with its grand suspension, defines the house's identity. The slight inclination of the suite wall introduces a subtle tension to the volume, capturing light more effectively and infusing dynamism into the composition. The lateral facade unveils an interplay of overlapping volumes, carved to accommodate the entrance, creating a dynamic of fullness and voids that enhances the volumetric expression. Conversely, the north facade presents itself as an almost blind plane, where the solitary access opening contrasts with the interior's luminosity, celebrating formal simplicity and introspective character.
Materiality and integrated storage systems are grounded in sobriety and precision: continuous white surfaces, minimal profile frames, expansive glazing, and uniform flooring reinforce the intent to create a refined and pure environment. The lighting, discreet and embedded, aligned with geometric axes, extends the narrative of the house as a volumetric object into the night, accentuating shadows, depths, and proportions.
In essence, the House of Cork Trees II is an exercise in balancing form, function, and light. The clarity of volumes, the careful articulation between privacy and openness, and the everlasting connection with the exterior translate into an architectural approach that seeks intensity in simplicity and comfort in precision. More than a constructed object, the house offers a unique living experience centered on serenity, light, and spatial continuity.
