Architecture

Casa 7A keeps prying eyes at bay

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Casa 7A, by Arquitectura en Estudio and Natalia Heredia (Photo: David Uribe)
Casa 7A is located in the hills an hour or two's drive away from Bogota, Colombia (Photo: David Uribe)
Casa 7A features a layout that is largely open to the elements but still allows a degree of privacy (Photo: David Uribe)
Casa 7A measures 550 sq m (5,920 sq ft) (Photo: David Uribe)
Casa 7A was designed by Arquitectura en Estudio and Natalia Heredia (Photo: David Uribe)
The home can be separated into two main areas: open and private (Photo: David Uribe)
Casa 74 also features a rainwater catchment system which collects rainwater for use as irrigation (Photo: David Uribe)
The private areas contains the sort of faultlessly-furnished interior one expects from a high-end villa (Photo: David Uribe)
Casa 7A, by Arquitectura en Estudio and Natalia Heredia (Photo: David Uribe)
The patio and lounge areas of Casa 7A feature a layout open to the elements and well-suited to the local hot, dry climate (Photo: David Uribe)
When required, hand-operated timber screens close off Casa 7A (Photo: David Uribe)
The screens still allow some degree of ventilation, even when closed (Photo: David Uribe)
Arquitectura en Estudio and Natalia Heredia oriented Casa 7A on a north-south line, thus reducing the home's open areas from the Colombian sun's worst (Photo: David Uribe)
The villa was built using local labor and mostly sustainably-sourced materials (Photo: David Uribe)
Casa 7A's placement allows the swimming pool to catch the rays most of the day (Photo: David Uribe)
Casa 7A boasts views of the local hillside (Photo: David Uribe)
Casa 74 also features a rainwater catchment system which collects rainwater for use as irrigation (Photo: David Uribe)
Casa 7A was designed by Arquitectura en Estudio and Natalia Heredia, and completed earlier this year (Photo: David Uribe)
The home can be separated into two main areas: open and private (Photo: David Uribe)
The pool should also help lower the local temperature, if there's a breeze (Photo: David Uribe)
Casa 7A's layout is well suited to the local hot and dry climate (Photo: David Uribe)
Casa 7A's placement allows the swimming pool to catch the rays most of the day (Photo: David Uribe)
Casa 7A measures 550 sq m (5,920 sq ft) (Photo: David Uribe)
Casa 7A features a layout that is largely open to the elements but still allows a degree of privacy (Photo: David Uribe)
The property was completed earlier this year (Photo: David Uribe)
Architectural drawing of Casa 7A (Image: Arquitectura en Estudio)
Architectural drawing of Casa 7A (Image: Arquitectura en Estudio)
Architectural drawing of Casa 7A (Image: Arquitectura en Estudio)
Architectural drawing of Casa 7A (Image: Arquitectura en Estudio)
Architectural drawing of Casa 7A (Image: Arquitectura en Estudio)
Architectural drawing of Casa 7A (Image: Arquitectura en Estudio)
Architectural drawing of Casa 7A (Image: Arquitectura en Estudio)
Architectural drawing of Casa 7A (Image: Arquitectura en Estudio)
Architectural drawing of Casa 7A (Image: Arquitectura en Estudio)
View gallery - 33 images

High up in the hills around an hour or two's drive from Bogota, Colombia, is located a country villa that boasts a degree of sustainability – and even more luxury. Designed by Arquitectura en Estudio and Natalia Heredia, Casa 7A also sports a novel facade made up of sliding and pivoting wooden screens that can offer both openness and privacy, as required.

Casa 7A was completed earlier this year and measures 550 sq m (5,920 sq ft). The villa was built using local labor and from materials such as concrete, sandstone, timber for the framework, and sustainably-grown teak, which was used for the furniture, screens, and flooring.

The residence is oriented north-to-south, which helps reduce solar heat gain, and keeps the sun on the swimming pool for most of the day, though a solar panel heating system is also on hand to warm the pool water. Casa 7A additionally features a ventilated roof and a catchment system which collects rainwater for irrigation use.

Casa 7A's placement allows the swimming pool to catch the rays most of the day (Photo: David Uribe)

The home's layout is divided into two main section: open outer spaces, and private inner rooms. The private areas include four bedrooms, each with en suite bathroom, plus another bathroom, a kitchen, and utility rooms.

The semi-outdoor living space is the more interesting of the two. The outside kitchen, toilet, and patio areas feature no walls to keep out the great outdoors, but when the home is not in use – or if privacy is required – timber screens can be slid across on runners (or in some places pivoted) to close off the home.

The basic concept is by no means unique, but Casa 7A's wooden screen facade is a nice touch that has been particularly well done, and in addition to offering privacy, helps reduce the home's energy costs in a predominantly hot and dry climate.

Source: Arquitectura en Estudio via Arch Daily

View gallery - 33 images
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2 comments
Don Duncan
I really like the full bath in each bedroom. Every house should have this.
What is the altitude? Distance from Bogota? Exact location? Is it on the way to the Plains of Llanos?
Gargamoth
Very nice vacation getaway feel, but nothing I would call Home.