“Habitare”home without a house” by Bayona Studio is a masterpiece that bridges the gap between perception and comprehension. It is the materialization of the obligatory manifestations of multiple trains of thought of a person. It demonstrates a transformation of perception into an actual physical space by appealing to the human senses. What seems to be a house in the first place is technically a mere temporary installation.
This project is a testimony to the fact that architecture is much more than walls and floors. It is about the people who inhabit these spaces adding life to them. The radically new design unifies reality and imagination, leading to the inception of this timeless temporary installation that attempts to interact with people by recounting the tale of the spot.
Bayona Studio’s Big Idea | Habitare
What seems to be a cultural architecture undertaken by Bayona Studio—Habitare, in Latin, means to occupy a place—seems like a contrastingly apt name for a home without a house.
As we know that a house is a 3-dimensional form, and a home is when people inhabit that house. And, home is a psychological realm of space that depends on the house for its existence. But, astonishingly, Habitare is the only example that exhibits a home without the house as it buoyantly captures the essence of life and livelihood. The concept was to evoke a sense of belonging and connection to space that does not exist and simultaneously posits the idea of existence.
It is the consumerist things we possess that subconsciously describe us. Therefore, what appears to be personal belongings adds soul to the place, letting people reminisce about what would have been the past. Divergently the lifeless furniture adds life to what would otherwise end up being a hollow metal frame structure. It is the presence of this furniture and other inanimate objects that prompt people to associate it with life. It acts as a blank canvas that lets people paint the picture of their subconscious perceptions.
The Materialization
Trends come and go, but what connects with people stays forever. Habitare is one such project that has filled the urban void with its minimal but overpowering existence. Habitare is not a house but reminds us of one. It does not follow any style of architecture but somewhat follows a thematic re-creation of pretentious and relatable inhabitants.
The plan and the elevations of the non-building appear just like any other generic habitable building. But, in reality, it is just a structure that, arduously, like under a yoke, holds up the neighbouring house, which can’t stand on its own. So the urban void is filled by this voided non-building fills and functions as an urban linkage that does not change the semantics of the urban space. It also illustrates the importance of responding to the surrounding context while upgrading the existing built environment.
The Structure
The Habitare is a metal portal frame that stands at the node supporting the adjoining buildings. Therefore, the steel I-sections and box sections create a framework that imitates the silhouette of the existing building present at the back. The furniture, lighting fixtures, and other day-to-day objects fixed to the metal frame intend to recreate the real-life scenario.
Bayona Studio positioned these objects, assuming the presence of non-existent walls and floors. The furniture located at its correct places and fixed to the skeletal frame enables a person to comprehend the perceived space into a conceived space.
Building Optimization | Habitare
“Architecture is capable of summoning a house simply by outlining spaces, shaping their limits with countless resources and nuances. The architecture, the result of how houses are formed, depends on these limits and their formal and material complexity. And yet, a house isn’t by default necessarily a home.” (Archdaily, 2021)
Therefore, this installation and the entire non-building with its moderate and minimal use of materials ensures minimal impact on the environment. Also, with the design intent of spatial storytelling, Bayona Studio has reused the furniture to create real-life scenarios. It generates insight into the importance of retrofitting existing buildings as the greenest buildings are the ones that already exist. It might just be an installation in this case, but the Habitare illustrates the spatial optimization to the maximum efficiency. It educates the people about a spatial configuration that demonstrates a set of interrelated day-to-day objects positioned corroborating the design and ergonomic requirements while maintaining the quality of the space.
Bayona Studio with this architecture project highlights the importance of keeping things minimal. It invigorates one to ponder the significance we give to the rapacious acquisitions over people. Habitare shows to what extent people today go in pursuit of creating a comfortable lifestyle.
The extravagance that people aspire, possessions devoid of any realism, creates a delusional space through which people aim to attain comfort. But it is the life that inhibits the place that makes it habitable. Bayona studio with Habitare reminds us of what exactly makes a home!
Reference:
“Habitare” Home Without a House / Bayona Studio. Bayona Studio, 2021. Archdaily, rchdaily.com/963009/habitare-home-without-a-house-bayona-studio. Accessed 11 July 2021.
