Terrassa

Setting: housing buildings with huge 1st floor terraces on top of groundfloor commercial facilities covering the whole block. Balance: lack of interior space, excess of terrace space. Bad orientation: south, east and west occupied by high buildings. Incompatibility: Work and children at home. The existing flat has been expanded by an annex representing the "parent’s wing" – containing the office, bedroom and bathroom. With this new annex, the flat embraces the terrace providing protection for the private exterior space while creating new visual relations between different parts of the flat. At the intersection between the retreat area and the housing area a common open and adaptable space has been established, capable of absorbing all the activities that have no place of their own: hosting visitors, home work, study, play, etc. The new wing is entirely built with drywall systems to limit the load on the slab. A green roof improves insulation and microclimate in addition to visually rewarding neighbors. The private facades, looking towards the terrace and protected from remote vision, are equipped with storey-high insulation windows and wooden practicable elements for ventilation and access. The two outer facades are covered with VIROC-board provided with some window to facilitate cross-ventilation.