House in The Dune : a Smooth Integration to the Environment

The condition of the site in the form of a sloping dune combined with a brief from the client is the main consideration in the design of the VP House by Luciano Kruk. Located in a seaside environment with minimal vegetation, especially pine trees typical of the Coastal District in Costa Esmeralda, Argentina, this house was indeed assigned to be a summer house for the owner's family.

VP House is a house in the dune.

But to the architect, the owner also said that his secondary house still has to accommodate standard uses. Faced with these two things, the need for space and the topographical condition of the site, Kruk also answered it with an integrated design but did not cause such a significant environmental impact. Instead of intervening on the site, the VP House followed its sharply declining contours at the back. That way, the space program can be divided easily, into social areas on the upper floors and more private ones under the slope. The partial sinking of the building's volume, which includes one master bedroom and two regular bedrooms, also has the intention of providing privacy and comfort.

The configuration of VP House follows the condition of the site, which is a sharp drop on the back.

VP House view from behind.

In addition, this house which is made with exposed concrete also increases the protection of the intimacy of its inner space from the outside view through the addition of blind side walls and good permeability of the front façade. So basically, this structure does not forget to respond to the surrounding environment which consists of houses that are relatively close to each other. However, indirectly, the interaction between this house and the surrounding environment can still be felt when it is upstairs. This floor is indeed designed to be more open for activities along with wide openings that can provide a wide view. Inside there is a living room and dining room connected without partitions, complete with a kitchen that is directly related to the semi-enclosed outer area. To expand or rather extend this social area, Kruk added a deck overlooking the greenlung on the back side of the site. Well, this deck that has two pools also protect the rooms below.

VP House entrance.

Semi-open space outside the social area.

Meanwhile, for the circulation things, this house is equipped with two steps placed on the same axis of the line but located separately. One outside connects nature with the open deck, while the other is inside the house as access to a private area. This step is also an indirect boundary in its spatial configuration. As the inner staircase separates the living room from the kitchen and dining room, the negative space under the outer staircase also creates a pause between the master bedroom and the other two bedrooms.

An outdoor staircase that connects the social area upstairs with the natural surroundings.

Interior view from the living room to dining room, kitchen, and semi-open space.

The interior view of the living room from the dining room.

Overall, the series of insolation control efforts can support the functionality of the building in response to the environment. This includes reducing the ingress of sunlight through the semi-covered area of the deck and overhanging. The house also has a split air conditioning system and heating from wood burning under the floor. All of course still blend with the aesthetic elements of the house, such as the expression of exposed concrete, the fine details of the anodized aluminum frame, glass, and the floor.

Top floor plan of VP House.

Ground floor plan of VP House.