Oasis is the name of an architectural project, but it comes from a research process to create a green and sustainable space with the highest quality of life in one of the densest cities in Spain and Europe.
This project is located on the ground floor of a residential block. At the beginning it was a parish church, later a printing press and finally a bazaar. The challenge was immense.
The goal of the project was to transform this ground floor into a mixed space where the clients could live and work in an office. Another plus was obtaining a high energy efficiency building by employing passive strategies, local materials, and a bioclimatic design (always in accordance with the site and the climate of the place). The main challenge was finding the flexibility to design a residence that would meet the needs of a young couple while considering the possibility of adaptation over time.
The result is a green lung at the core of the house, which works as a thermoregulator. The idea of ​​a porch, patio, garden, and living room merge into a single space covered by a retractable glass roof for ventilation. Following the Mediterranean models of the Roman domus or the Arabian patios, the other rooms are articulated around it, sharing in the quality of air, light, and temperature provided by this large garden.
The lighting project was one of the fundamental pillars in the design. Unlike other works, the lighting design was planned while the architectural project was being developed. The two creative processes merged to such an extent that we didn’t know whether we had defined the spaces first, or whether it was the light that defined their use. Each corner is treated with a unique care, and this is evident in the atmosphere of the spaces and the calm they transmit to the inhabitants.
The final appearance is a very warm Mediterranean house, made with glazed tile, clay, wood, and concrete but with an industrial touch, or a certain sincerity, since all the installations and defects of the original walls and ceilings are revealed. These architectural traces speak for themselves and allow us to understand the evolution of the space.
