Arq. Batalles, what do you think is the most important stage for the construction of a house?
Building your own house is one of the most important projects in the life of a person or family. It is not just about lifting walls, but about thinking about a place that represents us, that shelters us, that evolves with us. Therefore, as an architect, I always insist on the same thing: the most important stage is not the work itself, but everything that is decided before.
How is the ideal land to be chosen?
It all starts with a good choice of land. It is essential that the lot does not look only from the price or the square meters: its solar orientation, the visuals of the environment, the predominant winds and the accesses are equally important. A well -implanted house can make the most of natural light, heating passively in winter and protecting itself from heat in summer, thus lowering future maintenance costs. The environment also conditions the type of architecture, materials and even the constructive solutions that can be applied. Therefore, accompanying the client from this first stage allows us to avoid errors that, once bought the Earth, no longer have turning back.
Regarding the choice of materials, is it efficiency, durability and common sense?
In an efficient home, the materials have a key role. Today there is a lot of energy efficiency, but it is also important to think of materials that age well, that do not require expensive or continuous maintenance. I always recommend noble materials, with good cost-benefit ratio, which are achieved locally and are adapted to the climate of the region. A good ceramic brick, a carpentry with DVH (double hermetic glass), roofs with good insulation and simple but durable coatings are safe bets. It is also important not to be tempted by passing fashions: a house must last decades.
How is the budget optimized without resigning quality?
The key is in the project. A design well thought from the beginning, which adjusts to the real needs of the client and the available budget, can avoid unnecessary expenses or expensive changes during the work. Many times it is believed that reducing quality is the way to save, but in reality, planning is everything. Coordinate the items well, define every detail before starting and have a professional technical direction during the work is what makes the difference between a house that fulfills its function and one that is a constant headache.
What cannot be missing in a modern and functional house?
Current housing must be comfortable, efficient and adaptable. A criterion that I apply is always the clear division between public areas (such as being, dining room, kitchen) and private (bedrooms, bathrooms). This allows greater privacy, better organization and also the possibility of adapting spaces in the future. I also consider it essential to think of external spaces as an extension of the house: a good gallery, an integrated patio or a well -located window can completely transform the experience of inhabiting a place.
What is the most inspiring moment of the creative process?
As an architect, the moment I enjoy most is when we managed to transform a vague idea, a feeling that the client has, in a specific project that excites him. Seeing how that idea is transformed into planes, models, renders and, finally, in reality, it is deeply gratifying. But even more when the client appropriates the design, he feels his and begins to imagine his life inside that house.
In short, building is not just lifting a house: it is to design a space that accompanies and improves everyday life. Do it consciously, accompanied by a professional, marks all the difference.
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By CEDOC