Londra Housing, Bucharest

ADNBA created seven beautiful apartments in one of the few remaining lots in an old neighborhood of historical and architectural value in the central area of Bucharest.

How were you commissioned?:  
Through a former client


What was the brief from the client and how much were they involved?: 
The client has been very involved and approved of our design

How did the brief affect the materials and design choices?:    
We wanted to create a clean structure with the facade finished in natural stone.


How did your previous experience help you with this project?:    
Our Mora Housing project was also finished in natural stone.

Can you explain the layout of the project:    
The space-structure gives the urban presence of Londra Housing a weight that counterbalances the extent of the glazed surfaces, while the retraction of the central span and the asymmetry of the cornice are aimed at dividing the house into two volumes closer to matching the neighbouring scale. The deep windows and loggias contrast with the stone volume. The house structure is dematerialized vertically - the floors are gradually withdrawn and the windows are enlarged, the lateral structural walls being perforated to the limit of resistance. Gravitational force is transmitted in a continuous structural system, and the facade expresses this structural logic through the stereotomy of stone. The side spans are intended for the apartments and the narrower central one accommodates the stairway. The seven apartments benefit from beautiful urban panoramas. Glass acts as a filter between the public and private, through which content and contender continually change their roles, enriching each other.


What problems or challenges did you face?:    
The vertical diminution of the structure and the enlargement of the windows

What do you feel were the most unusual design elements of the project?:    
For the interior lobby floor the windows frames and the interior door frames were finished with white/pastel mosaic and brass metal detail was used for the apartment numbers and the ringers.


How do you think this project is pushing design forward? What makes it special?:    
This is a simple approach but innovative. The building occupies one of the few remaining lots in an old neighbourhood of historical and architectural value in the central area of Bucharest. Creating a new insertion in the old urban fabric but providing a building that looks familiar and always part of the landscape.


Suppliers:    
EUROFOX / GERMANY - facade finish
SAN MARCO / ITALY - wall covering
TITAN MAR / ROMANIA - floor covering

DOMUS gmt Natural Stone facade / interior walls
SCHUCO / windows
IR Colours / decorative wall finishings
Natural Wood Floor l / parquet

Project name: Londra Housing
Client: Forte Partners
ArchitectFirm: ADNBA www.adnba.ro/  office@adnba.ro
Lead Architects: Adrian Untaru, Andrei Serbescu, Carmen Petrea, Alexandru Apostol.
Collaborators: Raluca Raescu
Completion Year: 2017
Gross Built Area (square meters or square foot): 1800 sq m
Photo credits: Cosmin Dragomir, Marius Vasile www.cosmindragomir.info








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