Casa Aire: A Zen-Inspired Floating Residence in Medellín
Welcome to Casa Aire, a breathtaking single-family residence designed by Cinco Sólidos in the beautiful city of Medellín, Colombia.
This unique home embraces the concept of lightness and buoyancy, seemingly floating above its surroundings. Inspired by Japanese Zen architecture, Casa Aire features raw materials, water reflections, and carefully curated interior elements that enhance its connection to nature.
Discover this stunning architectural gem nestled in the lush Colombian mountains.
About Casa Aire
Transforming a Home: Balancing Geography, Lifestyle, and Design
The redesign of this house took into account two crucial factors: the surrounding geographic and landscape conditions, and the owner’s lifestyle. The concept revolves around expressing lightness and buoyancy, giving the illusion that the home’s interior and exterior are separate from the land, as if floating in the air.
Flexible Spaces and Unconventional Lighting
Designed to adapt to changing lifestyles, the house incorporates traditional spaces, such as dining rooms, living rooms, and bedrooms, arranged in unexpected ways. Custom lighting and furniture create a unique atmosphere that oscillates between calm and movement, sobriety and eclecticism.
Japanese Zen Architecture Meets Colombian Landscape
Drawing inspiration from the client’s preferences and the pre-existing site, the design incorporates elements of Japanese Zen architecture. Raw materials, water reflections, dry gardens, and colored light all contribute to the home’s floating appearance. The elevated geography and surrounding Colombian vegetation further enhance the detached, weightless feel.
Interior Design: Contrasting Light and Heavy Elements
The interior design reinforces the architectural concept with objects that either complement or contrast it. Light, flexible materials and flat, continuous surfaces emphasize the house’s floating sensation, while a custom-designed coffee table highlights the connection between natural and artificial elements, contrasting lightness with the weight of its materials.
Capturing Natural Light and Framing Scenery
Inside the house, patios and windows play a critical role in defining the living experience. Natural light sets the mood and frames the surrounding landscape, integrating the home with its environment.
Embracing the Mountainous Terrain
The property’s location and topography significantly influence the architecture and atmosphere. The high elevation offers stunning views, reinforcing the concept of buoyancy. Large windows and water mirrors work to frame and reflect the lush Colombian vegetation, immersing the architectural design within the green landscape.
Casa Aire: A Versatile Addition to the Client’s Collection
Casa Aire serves as a secondary house for the client but is equipped to become a permanent residence if desired. Seamlessly blending with the surrounding mountains and vegetation, this sculptural home exalts the pre-existing beauty of its Medellín location.
Photography by Nick Wiesner
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- by Matt Watts
