Casa del Marionette

Barcelona, Spain

2014

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This project focused more on the individual house and its relation to the urban fabric.The allocated site was in Barceloneta, a diverse urban quarter near the old town and port of Barcelona. Conceived in 18th century as a coherent urban plan with a regular residential grid within a triangular boundary, the district has become isolated from the surrounding city due to its position and the surrounding infrastructure. The original urban plan used a grid of 8.4m x 8.4m providing two storey houses which over time have been extended
Vertically and subdivided resulting in greater densities and a loss of quality to the living environment.

The individual prototype dwelling will therefore form part of the collective urban structure. In this proposal a house was designed for a puppeteer where the balconies extend to become puppet theaters for public shows.

In addition to providing a private
realm of protection and individuality, alternative ways of living were considered that extend the house into the urban fabric.

The historic plot size of 8.4m x 8.4m was used as the basis to imagine dwellings that could serve as prototypes for the regeneration of the quarter.

The Scaffolding was the concept for the structural design, as it suggested a backstage atmosphere and a place under preparation for public shows. The original first two floors facade was preserved , and the new upper floors elevation was formed of louvered windows that are integrated in the scaffolding like structure.