H²O 768…
ANNEX TO A GREEN ROOF

Client… Private
Location… Álvaro Obregón, México DF
Area… 543 m² / 5,845 sq ft
Date… 2011
Author… Adriana Monroy  
Staff… Javier Salinas / Perseo Hernández

The project’s idea is to add a new annex to an existing volume that consists in a horizontal story with three parallel planes over the walls of the first floor that when continued, create spaces for the new area of the house and merge it, in a subtle way, to the existing structure.
The new volume is proposed on the back of the original construction so as not to block the projection of the sun inside the house.
The access on the upper level is articulated with the main circulation forming axe for movement and contemplation. The circulation on the upper level becomes a bridge that surrounds the central patio.
As part of the addition, the plan views the patios of the original project as spaces that contribute to regulate the house temperature. This is why the height of the three patios was increased favoring the circulation of hot air. This spaces are adequately covered with specified materials so as not to generate heat isles and state of the art technology was used to set the systems that open the covers toll in natural ventilation.
The architecture of the new project considers using the roof as an auxiliary element in favor of protecting nature. This is why it is designed to serve as a rainwater receptacle and collector that enables the usage of the water for other household purposes. In addition, roof gardens work as visual green art mosaics and favor thermal insulation of the underneath spaces. The project not only maintains 68% of the free areas as gardens but increases the green spaces with the addition of the roof gardens and the orchard, where the house inhabitants grow local products for consumption.
The materials and systems used in the house have been carefully selected. For the floor on some of the exterior areas a recycled plastic bamboo, which requires zero maintenance, is suggested contributing to the process of reusing different materials.