BR House

Authors’ Comment

Introduction

BR House represents a complex project of conversion of a former production space, located in Constanța county, into living space. The beneficiaries wanted the transformation of an existing building, currently disused, into an individual home that could accommodate the whole family. The total usable surface of ​​the building is 1000 sqm, allocated on ground floor and first floor.
The project aimed at reconfiguring the existing facades and the interior, with the condition of keeping the current reinforced concrete structure.


Concept

The main intention of the project was to give a new "life" to an existing, abandoned building by converting it functionally into a home and adapting it to the needs of the family (made up of members of three different generations), taking into account the evolution scenario of it in time.
Thus, starting from the existing structural configuration, a functional zoning of the space was created, which involves the distribution of the living area on the ground floor, together with two adjacent master bedrooms and that of the main night area on the first floor, with a small socialising space in extension.
The living area is outlined as a core of the house, meant to bring all the family members together, with a hobby space and the kitchen nearby. The master bedrooms on this level are separated from the living space by a dedicated hallway, in order to provide sufficient privacy. Each of the bedrooms have the related facilities, such as dressing room and individual bathrooms. These are assigned to the house owners. The upstairs sleeping area consists of four generously proportioned bedrooms, assigned to the children and grandchildren. In the extension of the bedrooms, we developed a social space, a small living room which opens onto the main living space on the ground floor, developed on a double height. Thus both living areas allow continuous visual communication and have abundant natural lighting.


Design

The design approach follows the modern style, with an emphasis on natural elements and finishes, which provide a welcoming, elegant, but also timeless image to the interior ambiance. Surfaces covered with natural wood and natural stone such as marble and travertine predominate in the proposed design. Pastel colors were chosen for finishing the walls and for the fabrics related to the furniture products. The main attraction of the living area is represented by a fireplace clad in wood and marble, integrated into a double-height unit. This, apart from the aesthetic role, also has the role of visually delimiting the living area from the dining area. The kitchen and hobby room are separated from the living area by movable glass partitions, in order to ensure easy visual communication here as well.


Sustainability

The reconfiguration of the building involved a functional zoning of the living spaces according to the orientation of the building taking into account the cardinal points and the integration of energy efficiency systems for the operation of the house, such as: photovoltaic panels placed on the roof of the building, ventilation system with heat recovery and heat pumps, air - water type. The use of natural materials, such as wood and stone in the composition of furniture and interior cladding, also contributes to achieving a sustainable living environment.