House in Carrer Nord in Manacor

This attached house is located in a traditional Manacor neighbourhood. The plot where it has been built is long, tight and in corner, the longest façade is west-oriented and looks to square, presided by a mill. From the start, a modern volume and appearance were planned, but always respecting the scene where we are.

On the ground floor we find the entry, which separates the garage from the numerous use premises. On the first floor, the house is compacted in only one room, which we could call day area, formed by kitchen, dining room and living room. This room is protected from west and has only little openings to this orientation, however, it is opened to interior terrace, which is south oriented and protected with a corbel from the sun. This terrace is closed to street, in order to maintain façade continuation and guarantee this outside place’s privacy, really linked to the busiest area of the house.

A light stair connects to the second floor, where we find the main room and a spacious room-study easily divisible into two rooms. This flexible and adjustable arrangement permits the house adapt to inhabitants’ needs. The open stair continuity serves as an air circulation chimney and gives access to roof, which has a green space with an urban garden.

BIOCONSTRUCTION RULES

1. SUITABLE LOCATION: In this case, geobiological study was not made.

2. GOOD ORIENTATION: The house is south-southeast oriented, taking advantage of winter sun to the maximum. However, in the summer, it is protected from sun with shutters and terrace’s corbel. The right opening position permits cross ventilation in summer to cool the interior environment.

3. ENERGY MANAGEMENT: The building does not require cooling system, because it works passively, only using wall thermal inertia, good insulation and shutters and awnings suitable use. Regarding to heating, it consists of an underfloor heating with collector heated up by four solar panels, with only biomass boiler support, with zone adjustment.

4. MATERIALS’ GOOD USE: First and second floor’s façades are double skin, composed by ceramic bricks, thermal isolation and ceramic pieces plate above metallic uprights, allowing 4 air chamber centimetres, so it’s a ventilated façade. In this case, isolations are those used in conventional construction of PEX. Joinery is made of wood, treated with water basis, except the corner which is made of aluminium, in order to facilitate maintenance. Regarding to electrical installation and illumination, lights are energy-saving, conduits are made with PE and wiring is halogen free.

5. WATER MANAGEMENT: Sewage treatment has been pre-installed. Rainwater is collected in a buried tank for reusing later, both for drinking water as for housing needs.