Architecture

Air Villa turns the Panamanian holiday retreat on its side

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The 800 sq ft (74.3 sq mt) structure takes advantage of the 24ºC (76ºF) year round temperatures typical of the region (Rendering: WeMake3D / Haiko Cornelissen Architecten)
The rooms are arranged in a linear fashion along the southern exposure (Rendering: WeMake3D / Haiko Cornelissen Architecten)
The design turns the typical house layout on its side (Image: Haiko Cornelissen Architecten)
Wooden sliding doors can traverse the entire width of the rooms (Rendering: WeMake3D / Haiko Cornelissen Architecten)
Elevation with open panels (Image: Haiko Cornelissen Architecten)
Both panels can be slid to one side of the house completely opening up the rooms (Rendering: WeMake3D / Haiko Cornelissen Architecten)
Elevation with closed panels (Image: Haiko Cornelissen Architecten)
Plan with open panels (Image: Haiko Cornelissen Architecten)
Plan with closed panels (Image: Haiko Cornelissen Architecten)
The 800 sq ft (74.3 sq mt) structure takes advantage of the 24ºC (76ºF) year round temperatures typical of the region (Rendering: WeMake3D / Haiko Cornelissen Architecten)
The arrangement of the villa provides cooling cross ventilation that has been inspired by indigenous Panamanian houses. (Rendering: WeMake3D / Haiko Cornelissen Architecten)
The interior can be opened depending on the time of the day to connect with the landscape (Rendering: WeMake3D / Haiko Cornelissen Architecten)
The wooden panels fit into the exposed interior structure like a puzzle piece (Rendering: WeMake3D / Haiko Cornelissen Architecten)
Residents can close the interior or fully open the side of the house to the elements (Rendering: WeMake3D / Haiko Cornelissen Architecten)
The building is designed in collaboration with local architect Casis Arquitectos (Rendering: WeMake3D / Haiko Cornelissen Architecten)
View gallery - 14 images

Dutch studio Haiko Cornelissen Architecten has revealed a rethink of the typical Panamanian holiday home that breaks away from the current format by using sliding wooden doors that traverse the entire width of the building. To be located twenty minutes outside of the city in Cerro Azul, the sideways approach of the Air Villa design aims to provide an energy efficient dwelling with maximum exposure to the surrounding environment.

Designed in collaboration with local architect Casis Arquitectos, the 800 sq ft (74.3 sq m) design takes advantage of the 24º C (76º F) year round temperatures of the region. Rather than the enclosed, air conditioned structures typically used for weekend retreats from the hot city, all of the Air Villa rooms are arranged in a linear fashion along the southern exposure and provide cooling cross ventilation that has been inspired by indigenous Panamanian houses.

The interior can be opened depending on the time of the day to connect with the landscape (Rendering: WeMake3D / Haiko Cornelissen Architecten)

The linear arrangement enables each room to connect with the exterior in a manner that is unique for summer houses in Cerro Azul, using sliding doors to close off or connect with the outside space. However, these are not your typical sliding doors; wooden panels fit the entire north and south walls of each room, fitting into the exposed interior structure like a puzzle piece and allowing the space to be cooled by cross winds.

Due for completion in 2014, the structure will use local resources in addition to LED lighting and solar energy to minimize energy consumption.

Haiko Cornelissen explains the concept behind this new design in the video below.

Source: Haiko Cornelissen Architecten via designboom

View gallery - 14 images
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6 comments
Pranav Vissanji
is such a structure secure?
offthegrid
My goodness, what about mosquitoes, no see ums, and palmetto bugs (roaches) to name just three annoyances the tropics have in abundance. Not to mention that when first world travelers spend $3-5 hundreds of dollars each just for airfare on a vacation, very few will enjoy their sleeping in humid and hot unairconditioned bedrooms, freely open to those agents of torture mentioned above. Forget about sex on these vacation. I live in the tropics, these vacations will be like camping in the jungle. Suitable for single men and the young budget minded, willing to suffer life based on such simplicities.
Bob Flint
Not only the wild life, but the natural elements, typical humidity near the equator 75%+ storms, rain, an having to move the dishes to slide a panel that will fail from warping.
Trying too hard to be different, sorry simply stupid, get a tent, at least it has better protection.
FargoR
Always amazed how "innovative" an architect can be when he eliminates 70% of the requirements of a living space (privacy, security, storage, comfort...etc etc). But an interesting "pulltruded" design. Another art piece...that may inspire something useful.
temin_machinery
what is the building material?
Robert in Vancouver
You will have lots of interaction with snakes, spiders the size of coffee cups, and clouds of mosquitoes.
This is one of dumbest building ideas ever.