PH Helguera

The challenge was to completely transform the old "PH," which previously functioned as a carpentry shop. The goal was to modify the original structure, characterized by dark rooms, into spaces filled with light that open onto a large void—a longitudinal patio with a contemporary and welcoming imprint.

In this sense, the Helguera "PH" signifies architectural change: a home that has evolved into a radical, comprehensive proposal. The idea of a patio that connects the social floor (living room, kitchen) with the grill allows for the fluid development of both daily domestic activities and larger social gatherings. This design strategy leads to the separation of the bedrooms on the ground floor, situated on a higher plane to improve lighting and privacy conditions. As a programmatic corollary, a large terrace is created to function as a catalyst for outdoor activities.

The language of the "PH" refers to the old brick walls that composed the original building, generating a strong aesthetic and constructive solution, with a material reality shown in its most genuine stereotomic quality. The simple act of stacking masonry helped create a rough envelope of vibrant color, contrasting with a smooth white interior. We call this design condition the “coconut paradigm,” which operates in a constant dialectic of sensory contrasts and temporal differences. In this way, we integrate preexisting elements as the germ of the new, using reinterpretation and rereading as indispensable design tools.

Project Brief
. Architects: OADD arquitectos
. Photographs: Bruto Studio
. Designers: OADD arquitectos
Arch. Andrés Barone, Arch. Jorge Báez Moore, Arch. Fabricio Contreras Ansbergs
. Structures: Arch. Darío Márquez
. Construction: JC Construcciones