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Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination.

Villa Lokaator in Paldiski, Estonia by kavakava architects

 
May 2nd, 2013 by Sumit Singhal

Article source: kavakava architects

Situated nearby an ex-Soviet military town, which housed a nuclear submarine training base, Villa Locator deliberately advances the theme of its desolate surroundings. Starting point was an old army barrack made of calcium silicate bricks. The client’s brief was to reinterpret the surrounding military environment and keep the bulky 65-cm-thick existing walls as load bearing external walls. Renovated brick walls are visible in the interior of the house.

Image Courtesy © Martin Siplane

  • Architects: kavakava architects
  • Project: Villa Lokaator
  • Location: Paldiski, Estonia
  • Full name of the architectural practice: Head Arhitektid
  • Team: Indrek Peil, Siiri Vallner
  • Structural Engineer: Maari Idnurm, Juhan Idnurm EEB
  • Client name :  private client
  • The dates in which the project was started and finished: 2004-2007
  • The area in square metres : 197m2
  • The project cost either in local currency (please specify) or US dollars:  260 000.- EUR

Image Courtesy © Martin Siplane

Because of the building restrictions on the seaside plot, the barrack gave beforehand the constrained size of the groundwork for the new building. Prominent feature of the villa is two protruding consoles looking at the sea. These two “locators”, each with an individual staircase, were added to enlarge the living area. Consoles are balanced on the other side of the building by a projecting motorcycle garage.

Image Courtesy © Martin Siplane

Thus the building has two contrasting facades: glazed sea view facade with a terrace which is communicating with the environment and a hermetic street facade with vertical window slits for the southern sun. The rough aesthetic of concrete has been fully exploited in the general structure of the building.

Image Courtesy © Paul Riddle

In the interior, segregated spaces of a barrack have been replaced by an open plan. The location of rooms on different levels creates varying activity zones which mood also depends on the lighting conditions. Still, the austere character of the building continues inside.

Image Courtesy © Paul Riddle

‘Borrowing‘ of sunlight into the open-plan living area from the enclosed, bunker-like south elevation gives warmth and light airiness to the interior. This has been achieved via projecting dormer windows and strip glazing in the main wall. The indirect light makes the room glow.

Image Courtesy © Paul Riddle

The massive external concrete walls provide effective thermal mass, while a geothermal pump powers the heating beneath the cast concrete floors. The surrounding natural landscape and greenery were kept largely intact.

Image Courtesy © Paul Riddle

Image Courtesy © Paul Riddle

Image Courtesy kavakava architects

Image Courtesy kavakava architects

Image Courtesy kavakava architects

Image Courtesy kavakava architects

Image Courtesy kavakava architects

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Categories: Building, Villa




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