Al Borde

House of the Flying Beds

House of the Flying Beds
© JAG Studio

HOUSE OF THE FLYING BEDS

AL BORDE

ARCHITECTS
AL BORDE

YEAR
2017

PHOTOGRAPHS
JAG Studio

COLLABORATORS
Charlotte Vaxelaire

CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
José Guerrero

CATEGORY
Houses, Refurbishment

LOCATION
Ecuador

STRUCTURE
Patricio Cevallos & Mathieu Lamour

CONSTRUCTION
Maestro Miguel Ramos + ENOBRA + Edison Marcial

Text description provided by architect.

Built in the late eighteenth century, at first sight, the house gave the impression of not being useful at all.

House of the Flying Beds
© JAG Studio
House of the Flying Beds
© JAG Studio

It had only a one-floor plan, the brick floor was broken, the eighty square meters were dark and cold, and the wood roof structure was rotten.

House of the Flying Beds
© JAG Studio
House of the Flying Beds
© JAG Studio

Only the earth walls seemed able to be refurbished, which at first glance they did not look so bad at all.

House of the Flying Beds
© JAG Studio
House of the Flying Beds
© JAG Studio

The family does not seek privacy: the kitchen, living, dining, and bathroom are for communal use.

Almost public because the project is thought to receive visitors and friends all the time.

House of the Flying Beds
© JAG Studio
House of the Flying Beds
© JAG Studio

In this house for all, the private space is reduced to the bed of each one of the members of the family.

The final finishes of the completed work are almost the same as they were there in the eighteenth century.

The refurbish actions are a few and strategic: structural walls are reinforced, rammed earth is treated, doors and windows that were in poor condition are changed, and the floor is polished concrete.

The project demands a new roof, so we take advantage of this action and solve the bedrooms too.

House of the Flying Beds
© JAG Studio
House of the Flying Beds
© JAG Studio
House of the Flying Beds
© JAG Studio
House of the Flying Beds
© JAG Studio
House of the Flying Beds
© JAG Studio

A new upper bond beam connects the walls.

Over it, eucalyptus trusses were installed each meter and fifty-five centimeters.

House of the Flying Beds
© JAG Studio
House of the Flying Beds
© JAG Studio

Between each truss, there is a bed, in total three pairs of habitable trusses were assembled.

House of the Flying Beds
© JAG Studio
House of the Flying Beds
© JAG Studio

It was impossible to reuse the roof tiles; their poor condition turned them into patio backfill material.

The roof is solved with shingles of old tires and a ridge of recycled glass that swallows light, heats, and illuminates the interior.

House of the Flying Beds
© JAG Studio


House of the Flying Beds
Section AA
House of the Flying Beds
Longitudinal Section


House of the Flying Beds
Attic Plan
House of the Flying Beds
Floor Plan
House of the Flying Beds
Original Floor Plan

Al Borde
T +593 984636428
Al Borde
Francisco Andrade Marín 381 and Eloy Alfaro, Luxxo Building, Department 502, Quito, Ecuador