Material as a statement

The architecture collective Natura Futura see their project – The House that Inhabits – as a statement: that not only opposes the commercialisation of the city, which marginalises many people, but also gives brick a symbolic function as a building material and puts it centre stage. The aim was to demonstrate the versatile qualities of a building material that otherwise tends to be associated with a poorer section of the population and is concealed rather than displayed. 

The elongated house was built on a plot of 12 x 30 m. It references a traditional house type found in Latin American cities and is designed for versatile multipurpose uses. There is commercial space on the ground floor and an apartment and five rooms housing an educational institution on the overhanging upper floor.
 
Two sides of the building are obstructed by other buildings, so a narrow exterior corridor was created and a gap left between the walls and the ceiling. This brings daylight and natural ventilation into the interior. Strips of skylights provide additional light. The front of the building is taken up by the apartment’s fully glazed balcony. The exposed roof structure is made of wood, another material that is associated with poverty and that has been skilfully highlighted in this project.

The project uses bricks in many different ways and formats: the partition walls are built using stretcher bond, the outer façades are finished with continuous joints and the balcony parapet uses a pattern of protruding bricks. When light falls on the walls, the rough, irregular structure of the individual bricks creates a dynamic surface. A brick pavement and bench draw the material out of the building into the outdoor environment and showcase brick as a modern, high-quality building material that can also be used for these alternative purposes.
 
The multipurpose nature of The House that Inhabits makes it a perfect example of a social meeting space for urban situations. It draws attention to small initiatives that make a positive contribution to the quality of urban life in the centre of the modern city. The combination of unorthodox spatial organisation and the chosen materials makes The House that Inhabits a true manifesto.