“Bird House” Single Family House / Semisótano arquitectos (RGRM arquitectos)

Architects: Semisótano arquitectos (RGRM arquitectos)
Location: La Carolina, Jaén, Spain
Project Architects: Dolores Victoria Ruiz Garrido. Juan José Ruiz Martín
Technical Architect: Ana Cámara Alarcón
Area: 397.59 sqm
Year: 2012
Photographs: Jesús Granada, Courtesy of Semisótano arquitectos

Iberus Medioambiente Consultant: Francisco J. Martín Barranco
Energy Consultant: Desiderio Rodríguez Robles
Structures: Francisco Martínez Begara
Technical Coordination: Pilar Rodríguez del Moral
Collaborator: Vicente Heras Herrero
Construction: Alberto Calzada e hijos
Insulation: Weber Saint Gobain
Clients: Nicolás de las Heras Ortíz + Pilar Pérez Sueza + Carmen de las Heras Pérez
Budget: 238.046 €
Offices: Londres y La Carolina, Spain

If there was a single parameter to measure the success of a work of architecture, this should be the satisfaction of its inhabitants. Both the words ‘success’ and ‘satisfaction’ are ambiguous and subjective, and as all reductionism it raises many debates, but we must say that in this case, we are not interested. We do not consider relevant to fall upon the shape or sustainability of the intervention, in this project we highlight as the key to our success the joy of a couple of living in their house and our joy of completing the work and sharing a glass of wine with them in their kitchen.

For this reason the project is explained through a Decalogue that speaks of a process, it speaks of dreams, of expectations, of course, of laughter, of struggle, of family, of birds, of collaborations, of money, of friendship, of weather… that is, of everything that surrounds each work of architecture but realizing that the process is what enriches it and what remains, and what the photograph or the plan cannot narrate as precisely as the word.

A) Perspective 1 to understand the project – described by the architects – the Decalogue of the “Bird House”

1. The clients are now our friends.

2. We integrate, for the second time in our career, bird nests of various sizes for the improvement of the urban bird population. Birds! We want more bird sounds!

3. We obtain energy rating A. Biomass: local olive pits. Insulation: on the outside.

4. We created fun architecture, because life is the more fun, the better.

5. We make a slide, round windows and hatches in the floor, the window of Heidi and prying windows, windows that draw hot air as fireplaces.

6. We asked and were granted: colorful bulbs, river stones on the floor of the courtyard, fishes in the pool, tomatoes and zucchini, recycled doors to exit to the garden.