Influencing Emotions: Casa JL in Medellin by Cinco Sólidos.

On the outskirts of Medellin, Colombia, this 900-square-metre, mountain-top house is a feast for the eyes. Outside, the breathtaking views overlooking the entire city are the star of the show. But inside, too, there are plenty of visual surprises, thanks to the work of design studio Cinco Sólidos.

The starting point for this project was the relationship between the structure and its surroundings. Divided into two V-shaped structures overlapping the uneven site and comprising the top and lower levels, the house mirrors its environment in an ode to the architecture’s context.

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On the lower part, a corridor connects the garage, utility room and storage rooms. The main living spaces — including the kitchen, dining room, living area and TV room — also occupy this floor where a sculptural staircase, an artwork in itself, leads to three bedrooms that were shaped with contemplation in mind. In these private refuges, wood and concrete create both contrast and balance in a peaceful atmosphere that consists of only the essentials.

“The space needed to feel transient, allowing communication between the social areas whilst keeping a sense of intimacy in every area”, the Cinco Sólidos team says. “This home was designed to disrupt the sensorial realm, influence emotion and create connections with its context, stripping down any unnecessary elements that can contaminate its energy.”

Every piece of furniture was carefully placed, adding some warmth and texture to the raw materiality of the architecture. “Nothing should seem out of place; nothing should feel superfluous,” the designers express.

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Floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors and windows maximize natural light while playing with it throughout the day, with reflections of the sky and the infinity dark pool, which was built beside a dining and barbecue area.

Throughout the project and before making any decisions, the Cinco Sólidos team constantly kept in mind some essential questions such as: “Is it beautiful? Does it serve a purpose to the space it inhabits? Does it influence the way people interact with the space? Does it establish a sensorial relationship with them?”

With asymmetry as a key element to disrupt the otherwise stiff and structured architecture, this house reveals its strong identity in a subtle and simultaneously powerful way. Here, the opposites enter into dialogue at the service of the bigger picture for a majestic result.

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[Images courtesy of Cinco Solidos. Photography by Nick Wiesner & Anna Dave.]