15 residential Pavilions en Cap Barbaria, Formentera
Formentera represents a dream; therefore it is something intangible and unreachable
at first sight. Moving into this island is like dipping into the subconscious,
in order to construct a mental landscape that extends beyond the limit of
reality. We propose a trip to a place in which we vanish from the surface.
The program offers resting spaces and the contemplation of nature. The plot
opens up towards the sea on the south-eastern part of the island and is surrounded
by a natural park. Our pavilions desire to be the extension of this landscape,
without interrupting the views. The old low stonewalls, dividing the terrain,
serve as supporting points of these pavilions and as marking elements which
differentiate the paths.
A predominant element of the island is the dry stone wall. Formed by stones
that were removed from the cultivation zones, it is used to separate the properties
and protect the cultivation areas, shaping a straight-lined net, which when
seen from above seems like a labyrinth.
The site is defined by two plots with only one entrance from the road. It
is advisable, in a landscape intervention like this, that the pavilion inhabitants
leave their cars parked in a place planned beside the road and then follow
towards the direction marked by the pavilions. From this point an itinerary
is drawn towards the sea following the existing low stonewalls and their connecting
paths, until it arrives to a common space, formed by a sea-water surface and
a small restaurant area. Beside this view point over the sea lies an excavated
area for unloading and parking.
It is more of a process of subtraction, than of addition what prevails into
this project. The earth is excavated and 15 flat roofs are placed, forming
semi-underground pavilions. The roofs are platforms that arise 1,10m above
the ground looking towards the sea, until they leave a minimum 2,5m gap, in
order to penetrate and be sheltered by the ground. The platforms have an internal
steel structure, but the exterior is covered by the same calcareous stone
which exists in the suroundings. On the other hand we have the opposite effect
of slowly discovering the landscape as we go up from the interior towards
the surface. If the natural slope descends towards the sea, the proposal marks
an opposite direction that penetrates the earth until it touches water, an
artificial limit in the sense of an individual sea. The intersection between
the water surface and its vertical is not abrupt, but it intends to offer
a visual continuity below the ground level, by a cantilever which works as
a spring of the water circuit. In this way we prolong the feeling of water
continuity.
This water surface works as a regulator of ambient humidity, not only refreshing
the air but also cooling down the floor through a closed cooling system. This
system is formed by a coil, which is positioned below the pool, and absorbs
the temperature difference, sending it up to the pavilion’s interior.
In this way a pleasant sensation is accomplished during the summer, which
is recovered in winter as a heat irradiation system. The energetic supply
for the a.c.s. will be solved through the incorporation of a solar panel system.
In this way we will have not only warm water but also heating during the winter
period. This heating supply, during winter months, is interchanged with the
coil circuit, distributing itself through the floor plane. The electric demand
is dealt with by solar photovoltaic panels which are placed, either on the
flat roofs or in the surroundings, sheltered by the small walls. The awareness
for the water resource management leads us to develop a second water circuit
which recovers the used water and reuses it as waste flush, and is stored
in a septic tank. Both the drinkable water supply and waste harvesting will
be developed by optimizing the existing resources.
All the furniture is underground and consists a part of the calcareous stone.
It’s the minimum furniture necessary in order to live. For example,
the bed is part of the earth slab, which at night, is elevated 40cm above
ground and is converted into a spring mattress. In the same way, the tables
and stools integrate with the landscape architecture. The pavilions have only
one skylight, which arises from the two bathrooms, and lets a faint light
pass through their semi-underground walls. The platforms, the structure and
the glass walls, which stand out above the ground level, go down until they
get totally buried in the ground. The closing system is similar to the system
of elevating platforms with hydraulic pistons. Therefore, when the inhabitants
require it (during night or winter), the pavilions may disappear into the
landscape, without leaving any sign of intervention in the territory.
