Blueprint Awards 2017: The winners
Best Non-Public Project – Residential
Winner: Studio mk27, Brazil
Ramp House, São Paulo, Brazil
Judges’ Comments
‘A strong urban proposition, with seamless and intriguing proportions.’ André Fu
The design of the Ramp House is informed by the need to provide a gallery-like setting for the owners’ important collection of African art. The eventual plan is for the house in São Paulo to become a cultural foundation, which inspired?a series of flexible open-plan spaces that will be easy to convert to this future purpose.
The property takes its name from a 25.5-metre-long ramp that connects the ground- floor living room with bedrooms and home offices on the first floor. An elongated wooden sideboard that extends along the base of this ramp is used to display a collection of African masks, set currently alongside furniture, books and other domestic items to ensure the space feels homely. On the opposite side of the living area, sliding glass doors open onto a garden and terrace sheltered beneath an overhanging roof that enhances the sense of connection between indoors and outdoors.
‘Ramp House’s project favoured the spatial continuity between inside and outside, the precise use of natural and raw materials and, above all, the possibility to exhibit in a delicate way the beautiful art collection as true architectural elements that organise the promenades,’ says the architect. ‘The spaces – free and continuous — can easily be rearranged in the future to transform the house into an institution dedicated to the collection.’
Highly Commended
Vector Architects, China
Renovation of the Captain’s House, Fujian Province, China
Commended
Hayhurst and Co., UK
Whole House, London, UK
Finalists
Arquitecturia Camps Felip, Spain
Silver House, near Barcelona, Spain
Bell Phillips Architects, UK
Bracelet Close, Corringham, UK
Belsize Architects, UK
Hampstead Lane, London, UK
Ben Adams Architects, UK
Highland House, Sevenoaks, UK
Conran + Partners, UK
Gabriel Square, St Albans, UK
CZWG, UK
Hoola, Royal Victoria Docks, London
Farshid Moussavi Architecture, UK
Îlot 19 La Défense, Paris, France
Hayhurst and Co., UK
Whole House, London, UK
Hyde + Hyde Architects, UK
Silver House, Gower Peninsula, UK
Platform 5 Architects, UK
Backwater, Norfolk, UK
Sanjay Puri Architects, India
Ishatvam 9, Ranchi, India
Studio mk27, Brazil
Ramp House, São Paulo, Brazil
Vector Architects, China
Renovation of the Captain’s House, Fujian Province, China
Category sponsored by: DELTALIGHT
