Toledo, Spain

ANDAQUE HOUSE, SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE IN TOLEDO.

TASH (Taller de Arquitectura Sánchez-Horneros)

Antonio Sánchez-Horneros, Emilio Sánchez-Horneros, TASH (Taller de Arquitectura Sanchez-Horneros)

Photo by Miguel de Guzmán. © TASH. Published on November 21, 2011.

The necessity of adaptation of houses and lots to contemporary ways of life has created recent architectonic samples that substitute the former ones of poor brick, which does not meet the necessary quality tests of nowadays. Old constructions lack, in general, of archeological interest elements. We are talking of an area of the southern hill of historic city center of Toledo, where the most humble social classes of the city were traditionally located, so the buildings of these districts are, in the best of cases, of low constructive quality.

Photo by Miguel de Guzmán. © TASH. Published on November 21, 2011.

Due to the features of the lot, with a height difference of almost seven meters, and for granting good ventilation and lighting conditions to the house, it was decided to create a patio in the angle of access to the dwelling limiting with the eastern shared wall and Capricho street.

Photo by Miguel de Guzmán. © TASH. Published on November 21, 2011.

The project has two bays in two floors, one to Capricho street, with two basement levels and the other with façade to Andaque square. The acces is in ground floor by Capricho street, at kitchen and dining room level, with a restroom.

Photo by Miguel de Guzmán. © TASH. Published on November 21, 2011.

Being necessary, because of the height difference, to link four interior levels, a great deal of staircases are developed, and because the stairs are elements very important in the project, they are given a good spatial and constructive quality. In the first floor of the Capricho street is located the house living room, in ground floor kitchen and dining room. In first floor of Andaque square are the bedrooms, at patio level and in the ground floor the parking and installations.

Photo by Miguel de Guzmán. © TASH. Published on November 21, 2011.

The solution here presented does not develop all the allowed height for not making an excessive visual impact. It is espacially important the fact of the reduced height of the façade facing the Andaque square, for not distorting its scale.

Photo by Miguel de Guzmán. © TASH. Published on November 21, 2011.

Every main space of the house are oriented to South and to the views marked by the own slope. The holes of the façade of these rooms are granted a great depth for sun protection without using other elements uncommon in the old city center. For that in the level of the living a great flight of the structure is made to enlarge the space, without surpassing the 7,5 meters of unsupported roof. This has generated an effect of great depth to the hole from the exterior which gives personality to the façade.This wide enclosing wall, allows besides to place closets and shelves to the interior.