Location: Zahora, Cadiz, Spain Year of construction: 1991 Architect: Alberto Campo Baeza Associates: Diego Corrales {master builder).
Manuel C. (builder),
Mdrmoles Chacon (flooring)
An austere square house enclosed by white plane surfaces, the only continuous light being low and horizontal, and four symmetrically arranged lemon trees, two on the front patio and two more on the rear patio, producing spectacular effects as well as guaranteeing the symmetry of the composition: these are the simple yet major features of the work of the Cadiz architect Campo Baeza.
The building, which the architect named Hortus Conclusus is typical of isolated houses in the Andalusian countryside. Aiming for total privacy, this house is located on a flat plot in the middle of a field of orange trees: a square of 60 x 60 ft
Right-ha nd page: Rear patio with pool in the sunlight. The light, horizontal and continuous in this house, is reflected in the adobe walls of the two east-west facing patios.
(18 x 18 m) defined by four adobe walls I I ft (3.5 m) high and divided into three equal proportional parts, with the central part roofed. Transversally the division produces three proportional parts: che surface area of the central area is twice that of the two lateral areas, and the services area is to the side of this. The roof over the central area is 15 ft (4.5 m) high.
The entrance to the house is through the front patio: the swimming pool is located on the rear patio, and the living room occupies the space between the patios. The house, which covers 1200 sq ft (120 mJ), includes two bedrooms opening onto the exterior areas.
Front patio. Right-hand page:
The symmetry of the Another view of the continuous
composition is clearly sequence of spaces,
emphasized by the four
lemon trees producing Rear patio with the pool,
spectacular effects.
Interior — exterior continuity: where the Rear patio. low adobe walls intersect with the high
walls, four glass windows open up.