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Medellin residence showcases art, brutalist architecture, and theatrical elements

A modern, art-adorned residence on the outskirts of Medellin, Colombia, skillfully balances aesthetics and intensity.

A Medellín residence showcases art, brutalist architecture, and a dramatic ambiance
A Medellín residence showcases art, brutalist architecture, and a dramatic ambiance

Medellin residence showcases art, brutalist architecture, and theatrical elements

In the verdant hills outside Medellin, Colombia, the Medellin House stands as a testament to the harmonious fusion of profound reflection and architectural innovation. Named after Paso Fino horse breeding sites, this 780 sq m residence serves as both a powerful architectural statement and an intimate family home.

The Medellin House, also known as Casa Haras, boasts a monumentally brutalist style, with raw concrete interiors contrasting sharply with the more elaborate exterior cladding. The V-shaped concrete column in the house supports the overhang of the upper body, allowing the living and dining area to open out fully to the breathtaking mountain scenery.

The architecture studio 5 Sólidos, in collaboration with its owner, Karlos Pérez, designed the Medellin House. To soften the lighting and cast shadows as the sun passes overhead, aluminium shuttering, painted to resemble wood, was employed. The house's angular aesthetic is subtly balanced by the spiral staircase, which, at 35m long and almost 4m in diameter, serves as a pivot.

To soften the otherwise brutalist interiors, furniture by Paola Lenti and B&B Italia was chosen. Visitors to the house are greeted by a bronze sculpture by Richard MacDonald, located at the subtle transition between exterior and interior. The roof of the Medellin House is covered in stone sourced from local rivers, creating an unexpected fifth elevation that aligns with the five platonic solids that give the architecture studio its name.

The garden of the house features monumental rocks plucked from local rivers and native plants selected by landscape company Arte Natural Paisajismo. The pool in the house is lined with black Bali stone tiles, referencing the blackness of the Rio Negro, which backs onto the property.

Despite initial searches suggesting a potential connection between tropical modernism, brutalism, and Casa Haras in Medellín, Colombia, further investigation has not revealed a meaningful link. References to houses named "Haras" are either generic, lack stylistic details, or do not clearly pertain to Medellín. If Casa Haras is indeed a specific, architecturally significant project in Medellín, more precise information, such as the architect, project year, or design features, would be necessary for a definitive answer.

However, the Medellin House stands alone as a unique and striking example of architectural innovation, an ode to tropical modernism that seamlessly integrates with its natural surroundings. Karlos Pérez, the owner of the Medellin House, has assembled his own team of architects in Miami to launch his design studio, Studio KP2, with another brutalist project due to complete later this year.

The Medellin House, or Casa Haras, extends its lifestyle beyond the home-and-garden aesthetic, as the architectural studio 5 Sólidos collaborates with Karlos Pérez to create a striking brutalist structure that harmonizes tropical modernism with its natural surroundings. The home's garden features native plants and monumental rocks, while the interior boasts furniture from Paola Lenti and B&B Italia, offering a balance to the otherwise brutalist interiors.

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