Trama House is a project by 404 Arquitectura, brimming with brutalist character, built in the La Molina district of Lima. The house, with an impressive floor area of 750 square metres, stands out for its raw aesthetic of exposed concrete – both on the façades and throughout the interiors. Total brutalism!
Trama House behind its dark façade
The house was built within a private housing estate in La Molina, a part of Lima characterised by a more mountainous landscape and a warmer, drier climate than the city’s coastal areas. The clients were looking for a place that would offer peace and a sense of seclusion from the street and neighbouring properties. The architects therefore opted for a solution in which the household’s life centres around a large internal patio, effectively shielded from the surroundings – all in accordance with the clients’ wishes.
Two volumes and plenty of concrete
The building’s composition consists of two main volumes. The first, low-rise and clad in black mineral panels, runs along the front boundary of the plot. It houses the entrance, kitchen, utility rooms, a gym and a car park. Perpendicular to this section, a raw, massive element of exposed concrete has been positioned. Inside it are the living room and bedrooms. Beneath the concrete block, a shaded living area has been created, comprising a lounge, dining room and an elongated fireplace, whilst the entrance is accentuated by a projecting canopy and a two-storey hall. An opening has been cut into the concrete structure to allow space for a growing tree.
Sculptural details of Trama House
Two courtyards have been designed on either side of the concrete structure. On the patio side, the corridor is screened by linear cladding with vertical slits through which diffused light filters into the interior. The bedrooms, meanwhile, open onto private balconies facing the garden with its swimming pool. A concrete wall also extends over the outdoor barbecue area, resting on two striking supports, one of which takes the form of an inverted truncated pyramid. Furthermore, in the master bedroom, the architects have incorporated two special openings to allow indirect light to enter.
Raw brutalism softened by wood
The choice of materials was no accident – it was intended to clearly emphasise the building’s brutalist style. The concrete was left without any additional finish, thus retaining traces of the formwork. The black base visually lifts the concrete structure and helps to limit the walls’ absorption of heat. In turn, the wooden floors introduce a warmer touch to the interiors. The wide staircase made of Corten steel also catches the eye; its wooden steps are mounted on self-supporting steel brackets anchored in a vertical concrete slab. The entire project by 404 Arquitectura is a treat for fans of raw style and elegant minimalism.
project name: Trama House
design: 404 Arquitectura
team: Israel Ascarruz, Diego Bullón, María Fernanda Cornejo, Ana Lucía Diaz, Franco Ferraro, Diego Hernández, Gustavo Ontaneda, Carol Quispe, Claudia Romero
location: Lima, Peru
floor area: 750 sq m
photographs: Renzo Rebagliati
See also:Interesting facts|Brutalism | Detached house|Concrete|whiteMAD on Instagram
