Villas Finca La Monja
-
Upload
oeverzaaijer -
Category
Documents
-
view
222 -
download
1
description
Transcript of Villas Finca La Monja
United Momentum Group
In our eyes, a house should be more than just a home where you can live and sleep.
A house should firstly increase joy of living and respond to the inhabitant’s need for
pure, healthy and mindful living. On top of that, there should be a balance between
natural surroundings and the property, created by harmony between interior spaces,
architecture and nature around the building.
We strive to develop sustainable real estate projects that generate social revenue
(People), ecological revenue (Planet) and economic revenue (Profit).
Finca La Monja, Lorca SpainIn line with the company’s vision, UMGroup is developing 21 villas
in Finca La Monja, Murcia in the southeast of Spain. The total area
of the plot equals 46 hectares and is split into 21 plots of about two
hectares each. Each plot may hold a detached villa with a maximum
floor area of 300 square metres. The borders of the plots are set.
One is free to place the villa on any chosen spot within the plot,
taking into account factors such as soil quality, accessibility, view
and position towards the sun.
Paths within the project guide you along forests, almond groves
and the smell of rosemary. The area is quite hilly and offers various
views over the valley and miles of unspoiled nature and mountains.
Finca La Monja borders a nature reserve that is ideal for hiking,
biking and horseback riding.
Finca La Monja, Lorca Spain
19
15a
15b
12
8
9
7a7b 6
18
17
5
43
16
2
110
1113
14
ComfortDuring the design phase of the villas, we look primarily for natu-
ral methods to regulate a good living environment in and around
the property. This often means implementing principles of tradi-
tional architecture that have proved themselves in the course of
centuries. Our designs focus on interaction with immediate sur-
roundings—the villas promote outside living. Implementation of
installation techniques, for example, an air conditioning installa-
tion, requires a house to remain hermetically closed. This is one of
the reasons why we avoid using such techniques. Another reason
is the unnatural sound that is often produced by these types of
installations. On the other hand, we’re not against using modern
techniques; they will certainly be applied in the form of under floor
heating or remotely controlled systems, for example a remote con-
trol for regulating temperatures.
Some of our natural methods for maintaining comfort in our villas
are:
1 2
1) During the summer season, a typical day in Murcia is usually
pretty warm while the temperature drops considerably at night.
This difference in temperature can be used to our advantage. By
placing thick, heavy walls and floors, we slow down the absorption
and release of warmth. The walls and floor radiate their accumu-
lated warmth at night, while they supply coolness to the house dur-
ing the day. Therefore, the indoor temperature remains pleasant;
2) The existing wall of rock will also add to the regulation of cool-
ness and warmth. One side of the Path House is embedded in a
steep hill, while the Flower House is actually partially dug into the
rocks;
3) Light coloured materials facilitate reflection of sunlight, causing
solar radiation to be reflected during daytime.
Our villas will be built using local natural stone and matching light
sand-coloured concrete. Floors and roofs will be covered with tiles
or be plastered with cement of the same colour;
4) Solar panels will be placed on flat roofs and used for heating
water;
5) Crossed floors create covered terraces in the shade. The Terrace
House’s design is largely based on this principle. At the same time,
these crossed floors form a natural sun block for the glass panels
on the south and west sides;
6) Existing flora and new plants and trees help shade the building
and reduce unwanted heat gain. The Terrace House’s bedrooms of-
fer views over a green ‘oasis’;
7) The villas are situated against the hillside in such a manner that
they optimally utilize natural, cooling breezes. By opening venti-
lation shafts and skylights, cross-house ventilation is facilitated.
Houses will be cooled in this way during summers;
8) A system of water pipes will be embedded in the floor’s top layer.
Warm or cold water will generate pleasant warming or cooling re-
spectively;
9) Evaporation of water from shallow ponds in the Flower House’s
patio provides natural cooling.
9
6
8
5
7
3 4
Development in conjunction with natural surroundingsWithin our concept of sustainable and future-proof design, we
put all our effort into sparing the natural surroundings. Our
aim is not to deteriorate, but to empower the landscape sur-
rounding our projects. A villa’s design and choice of materials
ensures it blends in perfectly with the surrounding landscape.
Obviously, existing flora and fauna are highly respected. The
current almond groves are one of the area’s landmarks and
will be preserved in our plan. Like the villas, the roads and
paths are laid out in such a fashion that they put a minimal
burden on existing landscape, ensuring optimal possibilities
to enjoy natural beauty. People are not solitary beings; they
always belong to a community. This is an aspect of sustain-
able housing that receives appropriate attention during the
developmental stage. The villas are not just laid out as indi-
vidual properties with a maximum of privacy; they are also
part of a bigger entity.
Unique sculptures in the landscapeThe landscape is very varied: from very steep hills to flat
parts, with different orientations; from open to covered with
dense vegetation. Each building location has its own charac-
ter. Therefore, each villa will be unique and specially tailored
to the qualities that can be found on that specific location.
Good views and maximum privacy are particularly taken into
account. The villas will be out of each other’s field of vision
where possible.
A design system with a specific number of technical solutions
is being developed in which twenty-one unique villas can be
realized. The atmosphere is authentic: modern architecture
that is inspired by local traditions and materials and which
uses traditional methods to keep the house cool in summer.
We’ll use a limited number of materials; primarily heavy walls
and floors made from local stone and sand-colored concrete
combined with glass sliding façades. The villas will differ in
organization, while the materials and character remain the
same. We create an image of unique sculptures in the land-
scape.
When designing our villas, we take into account the ideal posi-
tioning of living spaces: bedrooms out of direct sunlight, living
rooms with views over the landscape, and terraces located to
catch the evening sunlight from the west. The three villas are
also designed so as to be inhabited by different people at the
same time. Each villa has a large bedroom with its own bath-
room, connected to a studio-like space, which can be closed
off from the rest of the house by a sliding door. This enables
flexible usage of the villa, for instance when guests are stay-
ing over or in the event of renting out the house.
The specific design of each villa is linked to several outdoor
spaces. Every villa has an 80 cm deep cocktail pool, bordered
by an edge with seats. Furthermore, the terraces are laid out
with sunken sitting areas, suitable for arranging as barbeque
spots. Both the bath and the sunken sitting area offer fantas-
tic views over the landscape.
villa #
12 | typ
olo
gy: te
rrace
ho
use
| orie
nta
tion
: sou
th w
est | slop
e: g
en
tle (2
0°)
The Terrace House is designed for moderately sloping sites. The villa has a southwest
orientation. You’ll find two floors with very different qualities. The top floor comprises
individual bedrooms turned away from the sun, orientated to an oasis of trees on the north side
of the villa. Boulders from the site will be used to create a semi-transparent façade on the south
side. Behind this façade you’ll find frosted-glass sliding panels which can be opened for fresh air
or for viewing the valley. The top floor creates the shade for the ground floor, a ‘cave’ and terrace
at the same time. Here you’ll find communal spaces such as the living room and studio, situated
on the side with views. Sunlight enters dark spaces on the ground floor through skylights that face
the ‘oasis garden’. The near story-high sliding glass panels blur the boundaries between inside and
outside.
villa #
12 | typ
olo
gy: te
rrace
ho
use
| orie
nta
tion
: sou
th w
est | slop
e: g
en
tle (2
0°)
first floor ground level
villa #
13 | typ
olo
gy: flo
we
r ho
use
| orie
nta
tion
: sou
th | slo
pe
: no
ne
(0°)
The Flower House type, situated on top of the hill, is suitable for a relatively flat plot and offers a wide
view. The villa almost literally digs itself through the top of the hill; its seven wings are partially cut out
of the rock. In this way, the cooling surface of the rock is optimally used. A central living space connects
all wings. U can enter the villa through one of the wings -which is actually more of a patio- , it is more
than suitable to use as a terrace during winter. Three of the seven wings face inwards and contain the
bedrooms; each of them annexed to shaded little patios with shallow ponds. The remaining three wings
offer beautiful views over the surrounding landscape, each framed like paintings by the villa’s con-
struction Sliding glass walls will be mounted between the wings and shaded terraces, smoothing out
the borders of interior and exterior spaces. The roof is one giant terrace, furnished with a small 80
centimetre deep cocktail pool and an optional sunken sitting area or sand box.
villa #
13 | typ
olo
gy: flo
we
r ho
use
| orie
nta
tion
: sou
th | slo
pe
: no
ne
(0°)
ground level
villa #14 | typology: path house | orientation: south east | slope: steep (40o)
villa #
14 | typ
olo
gy: p
ath
ho
use
| orie
nta
tion
: sou
th ea
st | slop
e: ste
ep
(40
°)
The Path House is designed for steep sloping sites. Two oblong floors are partially set into the cliff face.
The roof of each floor creates a terrace for the floor that’s on top of it. The three terraces are connected
by big stairs creating a smooth transition from the road to the path below. One enters the house from
above. A carport is situated next to the house’s entrance along the road. Stairs bring you down to the
upper floor, which offers a wide view over the almond groves. Here you’ll find three bedrooms and a
studio, which can be used as a guesthouse for friends and relatives. One floor further down is
equipped with a big, high-ceilinged kitchen and a living room with a fireplace. Like the Terrace
House, the interior and exterior spaces are divided by sliding glass panels.
villa #
14 | typ
olo
gy: p
ath
ho
use
| orie
nta
tion
: sou
th ea
st | slop
e: ste
ep
(40
°)
ground floor first floor
T +31 (0) 20 31 41 1 1 1F +31 (0) 20 31 41 199
PO Box 37697 1 030 BH AmsterdamThe Netherlands
Pedro de Medinalaan 7a1086 XK AmsterdamThe Netherlands
E [email protected] I www.oeverzaaijer.nl