Straight

The concept of the building is based on the spatial metaphor of the strait. The semi-detached house does not appear as two residential units simply placed next to one another, but as two interlocking yet clearly separated volumes. The internal courtyards and atriums formed between the two parts of the building are not merely physical boundaries, but transitional spaces: they separate and connect at the same time. These intermediate zones ensure the privacy of the two families, while creating a distinctive entrance sequence that strongly defines the atmosphere of the house. The massing derives from the slope and orientation of the site. The building does not simply sit on the terrain, but is organised through it. The different functions are also legible in the external appearance: shifted planes, varying heights and subtly displaced volumes articulate the tectonic character of the house. The composition is therefore not a decorative gesture, but the consequence of the internal spatial structure — here, architectural design is derived from functional order.

Following the logic of the slope, the garage level is placed on the upper level, directly accessible from the street. From here, a descending staircase reveals the continuous communal space of the living room, dining area and kitchen, which arrives at the level of the garden. The shared living zone is thus directly connected to the exterior, both visually and physically. The boundary between interior and exterior is not sharp, but transitional. The private functions are located on the upper level. The internal staircase acts as a vertical organising element, functioning not only as a circulation core, but also as a spatial device that creates tension between the different levels. The bedrooms open from this core and look out towards the surrounding landscape, allowing the upper floor to operate as a layer of retreat.