In 2010, the owners purchased a 2 000 square meter lot in Mogosoaia, Romania which could, at long last, contain the shape envisioned by the architect, Alexandru Marinescu. However, the tempting dimensions of the site also came with certain problems. The poorly structured area, lacking basic utilities as well as neighboring constructions or access roads made the clients – a family with small children – somewhat squeamish regarding safety concerns. The architect’s response to this challenge was a firm one, designing a flexible house, which transforms according to the users’ needs and offers them the protection they desired. The proposed concept consists of the association of three modules: the main one housing the actual living area and two secondary volumes, protecting its sides. A summer kitchen and a half bathroom were designed for the first of the secondary volumes, which can also double as a guestroom, while a double garage with a basement and a technical and storage room form the latter. The horizontally defined facades are counterbalanced by the terraces, which are cut out from the main volume, thus completing a carefully thought out arrangement. A modern and eco-friendly solution for the year-round air conditioning was chosen from Viessmann – the house was fitted with a dual solar heat pump (cooling and heating) which operates in a low temperature heating regime. A series of solar panels discreetly integrated in the architecture of the house provide an added comfort of use and more energy efficiency.
