Carved house

02 / 09 · section

Lime, clay and shade

Lime render on stabilised-earth walls, waxed clay tile floors, regional sandstone in patios and steps, dark cedar doors and loom-woven cotton with indigo accents. 2700 K light washing the curved walls.

03 / 09 · arrival

A blind wall

From the stone street, only a white volume with a tall narrow door and small windows. Inside, three 0.18 m steps lead down into the cool.

04 / 09 · threshold

Down into the shade

The zaguán crosses the thick wall: three steps go down 0.54 m and the patio light appears at the end, under a carved arch. A timber bench waits by the door.

furnituresolid timber bench · artisan ceramics in a niche

light2700 K: low wall light washing the bench and the steps · niche with grazing light on the ceramics; by day, the patio light

05 / 09 · well of shade

The patio of the tree

The climate in figures: a 29 m² well of shade between 0.4–0.6 m walls that delay the heat by eight to ten hours. A guayacán de Manizales, a rill that cools the air and lime that reflects a soft light.

furnituretimber and fique chair · clay pots with bromeliads

light2700 K: tree uplight under the guayacán · low bollards by the rill; the lime walls reflect the rest

06 / 09 · table

Between two patios

The kitchen-dining room crosses the house between the tree patio and the pool patio: cross-ventilation, a table for ten and a single-line kitchen on the west wall, the hottest. Sink–hob–fridge triangle: 4.8 m.

furniturelong walnut table and ten chairs · dark timber sideboard · regional ceramics on the shelf

light2700 K, dimmable: three conical pendants 0.75 m above the table · LED line under the kitchen shelf; no downlights

07 / 09 · zenithal light

An oculus over the room

The circular room of the plan: 6.6 m across and a 1.8 m oculus through which the sun draws a disc that turns with the day. Two facing sofas and an armchair close the circle.

furnitureLinen sofas · leather armchair · stone coffee table

light2700 K: by day, the sun disc from the oculus; at night, a hidden line in the oculus rim washing the ceiling · floor lamp by the armchair

08 / 09 · rest

Open only to the patio

The main bedroom turns its back on the street and opens to the patio through a 2.4 m opening. The bed rests on the thick wall; dressing room and bath lie to the west.

furnituresolid timber double bed · fique armchair · cedar dressing room

light2700 K, dim-to-warm 2200 K: wall lights on each side of the bed · wall-washer on the thick headboard wall; no downlights

09 / 09 · whole

Chosen, and still to decide

We chose subtraction over addition: small windows to the street, large ones to three patios and a round living room under a 1.8 m oculus. To confirm: the wall system, stabilised earth or masonry, and the species with the nursery.