Orchid House

Orchid House
© Alejandro Peral

ORCHID HOUSE

Andres Remy Arquitectos

ARCHITECTS
Andres Remy Arquitectos

PHOTOGRAPHS
Alejandro Peral

AREA
3640.0 m2

YEAR
2008

LOCATION
Pilar, Argentina

CATEGORY
Houses

Text description provided by architect.

The Orchid was a challenging project, committed by a young couple with two sons, enthusiastic about sustainable architecture.

Orchid House
© Alejandro Peral
Orchid House
© Alejandro Peral

After consulting several architects, they gave the commission to Andrés Remy, who had investigated these concepts in New York at Rafael Viñoly’s Studio for four years.

Sustainability implies a lot of varieties, such as efficient and rational use of energy and water, natural ventilation and lighting, and low-environment-impact materials. The house has the best orientation, possible thanks to the large lot.

Orchid House
© Alejandro Peral
Orchid House
© Alejandro Peral

The concept came from the client’s hobby, growing orchids. The house is based on the different parts of the orchid: the roots, the stem and the flower.

The sun rays impact in the interior of each room, were also studied, to determine the optimal depth to place the windows. This gives a unique volumetric outcome to the project.

Orchid House
© Alejandro Peral
Orchid House
© Alejandro Peral

Taking advantage of sun rays in winter increases the interior temperature up to a comfortable level. The design includes glazed volumes with good thermal insulation and small windows in the worst orientation, such as the south facade.

The windows consist of aluminum frames supplied with thermal bridge breaker and double-hermetic-glass. A wide variety of insulating materials were also used, as well as water based paint and wall and roof air chambers.

Orchid House
© Alejandro Peral
Orchid House
© Alejandro Peral
Orchid House
© Alejandro Peral

In the lower floor, the convenient location of the opening windows allows natural air flow helping to decrease the humidity in the room. What’s more, the big thresholds create a good distribution of fresh air.

All this, gives account of the complexity of the house, a glass and concrete flower, designed according to a program of needs and the client’s concerns.


Orchid House
Orchid House


Orchid House
Orchid House
Orchid House
Orchid House


Orchid House
Orchid House
Orchid House
Orchid House
Orchid House
Orchid House