Blurred Transitions
(Casa Roja)
Paola Ricco y Marco Brizzi.
Italy, June 30 2015.
Architecture Player
How can all environmental aspects of life become
seamlessly connected in terms of spatial quality? In this short film by Juan
Benavides of Filmatica, the outdoors is experientially bound to private living,
blurring the conventions of contrasting environments. The residence is located
in the mountainous Monterrey, Mexico and has been designed by the Mexican firm,
Dear Architects. The direct connection to the outdoors is noted as our
protagonists, a man and his dog, enter the house and open up the various doors
and shutters which transform the interiors, from places of refuge into
sheltered extensions of the outdoors.
Light floods into each space and large doors allow
complete access into generous outdoor spaces directly adjacent to the common
areas inside. The ground level connects to a naturally landscaped yard. We
experienced the movement from the dining room onto a covered outdoor living
room, complete with furniture pieces and lighting fixtures. The lines between
inside and outside are once again blurred as our protagonist takes us into the
upper rooms. The movement of shutters transforms a cave-like sleeping refuge
into a tranquil and spatially aware enclosure looking out at the backdrop of
majestic mountains. Floor to ceiling windows as well as small pocket windows
complement this experience by allowing light to fully penetrate the space as
well as by allowing for wind to circulate through the house.
As we leave the interior, Benavides reminds us of the
surrounding context. We observe the leaves of a tree blowing in the wind and
the sun shining on a lawn of growing grass within the frames of the residence.
The use of layered and transformable elements inspire a new way of thinking
about the home and it's integration into the environment.
This is the third short film in a series directed by
Juan Benavides of Filmática which includes the documentation of 12 houses
designed by up and coming Mexican architects throughout various cities in
Mexico.