Compact single-family dwelling, Satu Mare SM

The search for this project was from the very beginning to configure an architectural solution adapted to the realities of a delicate stage in a couple’s life: the stage of the empty nest, after the children leave the parental home and place them in separate homes. In this phase, most couples begin to contemplate and make preparations for old age, with changes predicted by the dynamics in terms of activity, income, available energy and some aspects regarding the size and quality of housing.

In this case, an extremely active couple, engaged in an intense daily life in the middle of the city, with children who became independent adults, develop a plan of down-sizing and retreat to a quieter area of ​​the city, a regulated urban periphery. rigorous in relation to the neighboring forest. (Satu Mare – Noroieni Forest area).

On a site of approx. 800sqm the two future grandparents request a ground floor housing project, of max. 100sqm built, in which to have all the functions necessary for a quiet home, an easy use of space, while a sustainable and efficient compliance in terms of energy use and local bonuses available (natural light, solar energy, clean air, good views towards green areas).

The resulting solution was a staggered juxtaposition of two volumes (the volume of the day area and the night area), both vertically, to ensure good lighting and ventilation of the central area of ​​the house, and horizontally, to create two areas important mediation from the outside (access area from the street and the small terrace from the back garden). The way of solving and joining the edges of the exterior walls and the adjacent trusses facilitated the coverage and the punctual or partial shading of these areas.

The south-facing frame also allowed the installation of a photovoltaic panel installation to considerably reduce future current costs, and a Canadian well will allow an input of fresh pre-heated / pre-cooled air depending on the season, without energy costs of preparation.

The internal distribution of spaces and their sizing was the subject of rational negotiation between the comfort of living, the need for spaces adapted to a simplified life and the ability to adapt some of them for grandchildren’s visits or to support the continuation of an age-appropriate professional activity.

Aiming to avoid the extremes of opulence or ultra-reductionist social housing, the project offered a mediating solution for the needs of the couple in question but also an adjustable starting point for both a family with children (by raising and capitalizing an additional level in volume at night) or for extra comfort in the living area (by expanding the southern white shell and integrating a covered porch to the south of the living area).