A Tiny But Terrific Prefab Home In Brazil by Architect Alex Nogueira

House 12.20 in Campo Grande, Brazil by Alex Nogueira







Copy is courtesy of the architect:
In a 9-meter-long (29.5') and 5-meter-wide (16.4') rectangular space, totaling 45 square meters (about 148 square feet), the orthogonality and the rigidity of the architectural environment create a contrast with the light and stripped atmosphere brought by the colors, by the furniture, by some of the finishes, and by the generous opening which faces the garden.



In this space there are, almost in a symbiotic way, the room, the office, the kitchen, the bedroom, and the hall, where the furniture is the keystone in both aesthetic and functional harmony of this multiple environment. The bathroom is the most conventional setting and it divides the hydraulic wall with the kitchen, but it is turned to the room, privileging this more intimate access.



Generally speaking, the homogeneity of the internal space is an attempt of dialogue with the homogeneity of the external space, the green plane composed by the hearty garden. In this search, both the large sliding glass door and outside deck are responsible for integrating and transporting the external space to the internal one, and vice versa.



The structural system favors the natural look of its different elements. So, there are together, in a mixed system, reinforced concrete with metal profiles. In other words, a metal frame supported by concrete bases, which maintains the construction away from the ground, gives it a certain lightness and a better relationship with the hot weather of the region.



On the front facade, a large layout of horizontal metal louvers not only provides the necessary sun protection but also a uniform, closed, and hermetic aesthetic, in full contrast to the back facade, fully transparent and open. This duality can be understood as a reflection a personality: serious at first, and more open in intimacy.






Exploring a predictable, rigid, and formal geometric body, there was a search for lightness, surprise, and certain enchantment, whether with the yellow sculpture that rests in the garden (made with leftovers of the type "I" metal profiles), whether with the contrasts between the solid wall of exposed concrete and the floating metal wall, whether in the mixture of very different materials such as the simple apparent clay brick (external floors), the transparent glass, corrugated metal closure, unpolished marble, yellow wall, or even crude and poorly finished concrete... Even though it is a small construction, the search was for an architectural experience capable of harboring the infinity of feelings.

Principal Architect: Alex Nogueira
Project Details:
• Year 2009
• Work started in 2010
• Work finished in 2013
• Plot (m²) 720
• Total area (m²) 45
• Status Completed works
• Type: Modular/Prefabricated housing /

Photos © André Barbosa

The Sleepbox. Mod Architectural Pods For Private Space in Public Places.

The Sleepbox was first designed in 2009 and finally realized in late 2011. The modular unit, designed by Russian architects M. Krymov and A.Goryainov of Arch Group, is designed to provide moments of quiet sleep and rest from the city without wasting time searching for a hotel.




Sleepbox base features include ventilation and sockets for notebook and mobile phone chargers. Space for luggage is under the bed, and each bed has a nightstand. In addition to general lighting, Sleepbox has built-in LED reading lamps. Windows are equipped with electric-drive blinds for privacy.



In mid-August 2011, the first Sleepbox (a two-bed double version) was installed at the Aeroexpress terminal of Sheremetyevo International Airport, Moscow, Russia. It represents the base version made of MDF with a natural ash-tree veneer.









This Sleepbox attracted such a great deal of interest from passengers and big companies that chances are first commercially operated boxes will be installed at airports and in the city by the end of this year.

Video of the Sleepbox in Sheremetyevo International Airport, Moscow, Russia:


Possible locations for Sleepbox include railroad stations, airports, expocentres, public shopping centers and accommodation facilities. In countries with warm climates Sleepbox can be used on the streets.




Sleepbox is a small mobile compartment (box) with a 2.5x1.6m base and 2.5-3m
height. One of its main advantages is its ability to be installed in the airport “clean” zone, just in front of the gates. This is precisely the area where travelers have to spend hours waiting for their delayed flights or transfer.

Video presentation of Sleepbox 1:


Currently Arch Group offers one-, two-, or three-bed Sleepboxes, which can be made of MDF (wood), metal, and glass-reinforced plastic. Sleepbox allows from 30 min to several hours of paid use. The price varies depending on the number of hours in use: the more the user pays for, the less it costs per hour.

Sleepbox’s main function is to afford a restful sleep. However, depending on location, it can be equipped with additional features. Available options include:

Matted film on windows with changing transparency
Mood lighting - LED lamps with changing light colors
Built-in media block (TV, touch-screen monitor)
Wi-Fi router
Alarm, intercom
Safe deposit box
Built-in payment station with magnetic keys


The Sleepbox Hostel Edition:




Area: 3.75 m2
architects: Goryainov A., Krymov M.
Design: 2009

This type of Sleepbox is designed for use in hostels. It provides a minimum of functions, and is equipped only with electrical outlets and lighting. Flexible ducts are connected to a general ventilation system. Case is made of laminated moisture-resistant MDF, which finishes a frame of wooden beams. Sleepbox for hostels has a bunk bed. The concept of the hostel is as follows: large interior without walls filled with sleepboxes instead of building separate facilities-rooms. This allows economizing on construction and finishing works and significantly reducing the time spent on construction. In addition it will allow very efficient use of available space and, if necessary, quickly change the plan. This solution also allows increasing the number of seats smoothly and without causing any inconvenience to guests.

Prices for Sleepbox start from as low as 7,000 EUR. Investments in Sleepbox pay back in 6-9 months.

Interested? Please contact:
+ 7 903 171 52 52
info@sleepbox.com
OOO Sleepbox
Gazetniy per 17-2, Moscow, Russia, 125009
They speak English, Spanish and Russian.



Sleepbox.com

Smart & Stylish Modular Housing. The House Arc By Bellamo Architects.

The House Arc is a modular off-the-grid housing solution where the pieces are shipped (ideally, fabricated locally) to the site and erected by the user or community. The future goal of the House Arc is to house people in devastated areas after catastrophic events and replace housing that was not built to withstand such forces.





The House Arc could be utilized in locations where natural disasters have displaced people, such as Haiti and New Orleans. Hopefully, organizations dedicated to finding the most affordable off-the-grid modular housing solutions will consider the House Arc.



The first House Arc was permanently installed on the Big Island of Hawaii in 2010 (a time lapse video of that construction can be seen at the end of this post.) Large windows provide natural light, maintain views, and funnel in ocean breezes to cool the interior while the shading trellis limits heat infiltration.





The raised structure allows air to flow underneath for cooling, functions with the site terrain, and maintains the permeability of the site.




The House Arc’s simple and modular design allows it to be assembled extremely quickly. Construction assembly is much like building modular furniture with a kit of parts and an easy-to-follow, graphic installation manual requiring no special training.



Time lapse video of the House Arc being constructed in Hawaii:


Bellomo Architects