Gaudi’s work could be inscribed within the modernist movement, but far exceeds the originality of their ideas and ability to break the mold and create new solutions.

Gaudi architecture, in a first time, is influenced Neo-Mudejar and eastern neomedieval even later introduced elements, but resulted in modernism, creating a personal style which emphasized their innate sense of geometry and volume. He created a new architecture based on curved lines and geometric shapes as the hyperbolic paraboloid, the form taken by the tendons between the fingers of one hand and Gaudí him into the vaults of the crypt of the Colonia Güell. The hyperboloid, the shape of the femur, used in the columns of the Sagrada Familia, or helix, the shape of the trunk of the eucalyptus used in Teresian College twisted columns.

Another key element in his work is the catenary curve, used at that time only in the construction of suspension bridges. Gaudí was first used as a common architecture. This element could be seen in the Crypt of Colonia Güell or the Holy Family and one of its main characteristics is its great strength.

Perfectly combined geometry and mathematical calculations with intuitive and elementary methods applied to architecture, so that getting get balanced forms very similar to those of nature. Read the rest of this entry »

It has been almost a week since Wednesday 11 May two earthquakes struck the town of Lorca with tragic consequences. Nine people were killed and more than a hundred are still recovering from the wounds caused by landslides, while almost all the buildings have been affected to a greater or lesser degree, so much of the population still lives in makeshift camps or the homes of friends and family.

Although the city will take much longer to recover from the disaster, is a good time to take stock of how the earthquake affected buildings and, above all, try to answer the question many you’ll be asking: How safe are your homes against an earthquake?

The answer to the question may surprise you: In my opinion, the existing buildings are safe from an earthquake, provided they meet the current rules of course, something that has been demonstrated by the earthquake of 5.1 on the scale degree Richter to hit the town of Murcia.

In our country there is a mandatory seismic regulations from the 70′s, now called NCSE, which is revised frequently and whose current version dates from 2002. The purpose of the rule is no more than “avoid the loss of lives and reduce damage and economic costs that could cause future earthquakes, and focuses exclusively on building structure and not on walls, partitions or ornaments. Read the rest of this entry »

The A-cero architecture studio, directed by Joaquin Torres, presents you an interesting reform project, located in Ribadeo, in the Lugo coast between Lugo and Asturias, where it joins the river that bears his name. This is a place that stands out for its architecture. The reform to make it on an old building that originally was an office.

Today the building structure was defined by a perimeter of walls in front plus a longitudinal centerline axis of the building. This bay is formed by a load bearing wall made of masonry that is seriously damaged by water intrusion and other atmospheric agents through the cover, in addition to presenting apparent crashes. Because of the above, its bearing capacity has been greatly reduced and not suitable for use as load bearing wall to support new floors.

The proposed action was intended to replace the existing wall with a new one to exactly the same position and held at the same factory as the current minimally reducing its thickness to suit the current circumstances and allow better use of interior spaces. This solution maintains the structural type and you can use the new wall to support the floors replaced. Read the rest of this entry »

Beauty, strength and usefulness are the keys to the strong housing that we present you throughout the week. A construction of pharaonic dimensions (2.900m2) emerging as a large sculpture in the exclusive area of Madrid “The Lakes of La Finca.”

Continuing the sculptural architecture of A-zero, this time the work of Richard Serra has been the main reference and inspiration to design this residence located in the largest parcel of residential (13. 357m2 of surface area).

The outer walls define the overall picture of housing. The purity of form construction creates a coherent whole with a structure made only by concrete walls where the intermediate pillars disappear and fine materials such as travertine marble, are imposed.

In accordance with the wishes of customer privacy, the house has closed to the outside (the path) through a series of concentric curved walls of natural stone at the same time, generating large spaces and open to the inside of building.

The building comprises three levels: basement, ground floor and first level. The interior layout was organized looking for maximum functionality and comfort of the owners, so that the master bedroom and all rooms used by the owners are located at the level of access. Read the rest of this entry »

The architecture studio, A-cero presents you a modular semi-detached house situated in a village in the mountains of Madrid. To explain this property, you must first know what they consist of the elements of the traditional house. One of the great hallmarks of the peoples of the mountains is your home, reflecting the lifestyle of its inhabitants.

Traditional houses joined physically strong and sober spaces for agricultural and livestock purposes (barn, stable and corral), to residential use.The manner of construction of housing with local materials contributes to the integration of rural communities within the landscape in which it sits. The construction of this area has always been conditioned by the cold and adverse weather conditions that occur in the mountains. The buildings are usually very compact and support each other to protect against low temperatures. The materials used are stone, slate, wood, adobe and tile Arab curve, very easy to get to the locals, and which proliferate in the vicinity.

The traditional model of housing, called “ mountain home “, is in stone masonry walls and slate uncut, trimmed inside with mud. In the base and the angles of the house would place blocks of stone Gander and rectangular or “blocks”, which introduced more robustness. Both the floors and in the structure, use large oak beams and pine. The holes in the facade, rather few and small were often framed by large pieces of oak saw, granite or brick tiles. Read the rest of this entry »