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ARCHIVE 2016 40under40

HouseH- Alfredo Munoz - Spain

Alfredo Munoz - Spain

Born in 1979, Alfredo Munoz is an architect in Spain and International Associate of the American Institute of Architects. Since 2010 he is the founder of ABIBOO Studio and his practice and research focuses on the development of integral processes at the intersection of arts, engineering, sensorial approach to architecture and anthropology. ABIBOO is a boutique firm with operations in Madrid (Spain), New York (USA) and Chennai (India) and is currently designing and developing projects of many different scales in four different continents. Prior to ABIBOO, Alfredo Munoz worked in Europe, the Middle East, India, Japan and the USA for internationally renowned architects like Campo Baeza, Inaki Abalos & Juan Herreros, Toyo Ito and Skidmore, Owings and Merrill on major projects worldwide. Alfredo Munoz has been a Visiting Professor at European University in Madrid and lectured at Columbia University in New York, University of Pennsylvania, Pescara University, the Stockholm Royal Institute of Technology and Tongji University in Shanghai, among others. His projects and design processes have been published and featured in general press like the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Reuters, GQ Magazine, El Pais, El Mundo, Expansion, The Economic Times, Al Jazeera and in specialized magazines including, but not limited to, L'Arca, Domus, DesignBoom, DesignMilk, Dezeen and Arquitectura Viva.

Project Description

Location: Madrid, Spain.
Completion date: April 2015.
Area: 1,500 m² - 16,000 sqf.
Plot area: 3,720 m² - 40,000 sqf.
Architecture: Abiboo Corp. (www.abiboo.com).
Concept Design: Alfredo Munoz.
Design Development & Detailed design: Alfredo Munoz.
Construction Administration: A. Munoz + A. Sanchez + C. Garcia.
Design Team: Alfredo Munoz, Ronan Bolaños, Felipe Samarán, Jesus Amezcua, Delia Rodriguez, Oscar Hernando, Luis Rocca, Daniel Jimenez, Carla Anton, Jordi Mas, Manel Rio, German Gil, Emiliano D’Incecco, Rodolfo Pomini, Jesus Reyes, Ivan Sanchez, Mariluz Jimeno, Cristina Domecq.
Structures: Abiboo Studio + Jorge Torrico + Alvaro Ruiz.
MEP: Abiboo Studio + JG Ingenieros + Plenum Ingenieros.
Lighting strategy: Icon-Akari Ishii.
Interior Architecture & Furniture: Abiboo Studio + Akari Ishii + Ilmio Design.
Project Management: Carlos Garcia.
Construction Safety Management: Carlos Garcia.
Contractor: Contratas y Obras.
Photography: Joao Morgado.

The villa is located in an exclusive area in Madrid and it is situated on a 40,000 sq. ft. plot next to a prestigious golf course. The house has a floor area of 14,000 sq. ft. (1.300 m2) and is the answer to the broad and diverse functional needs of the client, a well-known international sportsman.

In the residence, growth occurs in a non-hierarchical order, each space has different characteristics but similar importance. The villa is designed as a sponge, with multiple micro-spaces designed especially in relation with sensorial experiences and inter-related to each other.

The ground floor has the typical program associated with a villa along with many patios that make the house look bigger due to its integration with the site. The first floor includes spaces like office, guest rooms and play area. The basement includes spaces associated with oneself (meditation rooms, gym, spa) and with others (party areas and lounges).

The discontinuity expands from the inside to the materiality of the facades. The secondary areas are built with a façade in exposed concrete, while the day spaces in the center of the floor plan are in stucco and glass. Finally the night areas are shown to the outside in a metallic ventilated façade that reflects the light and create a strong contrast between all the different materials used.

The environmental commitment of the project is noticeable not only in the use of eco-friendly materials; the villa also pays special attention to passive strategies that respond to sun radiation, natural light and wind. The design leverages the local micro-climate through the existence of patios, water bodies, natural ventilation strategies and water management solutions while takes advantage of active environmental solutions such as the use of geothermal heat pumps that reduce considerably the CO2 consumption.

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