FOrTIFIED GARDENS

RESIDENCE facade ALTERATIONS

Type: Residential

Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Year: 2023

Status: Built

Partners-in-charge: Silvana Herrera & Armando Rigau

Collaborators: Gonzalo Rosado (Contractor)

Description: 

Working on an existing house that lacked a cohesive architectural identity, we sought to "fortify" its exterior through the creation of a continuous, folding wall that engulfs the entire facade. This new perimeter wall adds depth and visual appeal, while also supplying an “interior” courtyard space on the exterior.

In response to our clients’ request, we drew inspiration from the romanticized architecture of Old San Juan, which weighs heavily on the local cultural imagination. Rather than simple replicating the style, throughout the design process we abstracted the spatial and experiential qualities of two notable features: fortifications and interior gardens. Like in colonial architecture, we aimed to evoke feelings of intimacy and security without sacrificing a connection with the surroundings.

As shown in aerial photographs, the interplay of light and heavy architectural elements enhances the spatial atmosphere of the front yard. The massive concrete work was painted white to articulate its folding planes and resulting shadows. The metal fence surrounding the area features a subtle detail: round and rectangular tubes rotated at different angles. This design contrast – between the concrete wall and the metal fence – injects visual interest by generating a diverse array of shadows throughout the day.

Since the building code prescribes percentages of openness/ enclosure, we generated diagrams to calculate levels of porosity along the perimeter wall. To ensure compliance, we concentrated the open part on the left side and the solid portion on the right, introducing strategic breaks and openings throughout. In the resulting façade, lightness and heaviness are juxtaposed to project a sense of continuity and security.

The design was conceived to evoke specific moments that entice viewers to peer inside. Different orientations elicit distinct sensations. In one direction, the continuous wall creates a sense of enclosure, while in the other, the wall opens up, allowing views and the natural flow of air to permeate the space.