The Sphinx by Fran Silvestre Arquitectos
The project is located on the northern coast of Egypt. Located a short distance from the Mediterranean, its configuration on two levels allows views from the upper part of the proposal.
A single line less than 30 cm thick seeks to synthesize the traditional representation that symbolizes the Egyptian god of wisdom. The vertical element, with a variable section, allows the communication core to be housed while maintaining the expressiveness of the project.
Image © Fran Silvestre Arquitectos
Part of the house is completely cantilevered, emerging from a vertical wall, apparently not thick enough. Jib cantilevers always require a solution to its two fundamental parts.
The cantilever body itself, visible and apparent; and the vertical body or mast, from which the first starts. The cantilever body needs to be light. It is solved with a triangulated steel structure.
Image © Fran Silvestre Arquitectos
In this way it can be built at ground level, with maximum precision and using precambers, to be finally hoisted into position once the wall-mast is finished.
To improve balance, the counterweight of the opposite cantilever with additional mass in reinforced concrete is used. The fundamental challenge is the vertical body, which hides the core of vertical communications.
Image © Fran Silvestre Arquitectos
That core is responsible for ensuring the necessary rigidity and resistance so that the aloft house can emerge as a cantilever. In turn, the rest of the house balances the overturning moment of the vertical part.
The lower part of the house contains the entire program, with the exception of the master bedroom, which is located on an upper level, as a kind of independent house.
Image © Fran Silvestre Arquitectos
Some contemporary architecture references are taken up again, such as the floor plan of the Pirelli Tower where Gio Ponti achieves the optical effect that emphasizes the height of the building.
Same strategy, widely used in product design, is used to make the perception of the structure is that of a thin sheet of concrete. This technique is used both in the floor plan and in the sections of the proposal.
Image © Fran Silvestre Arquitectos
We have also always been fascinated by the ability to synthesize the classical tradition in the works of Andreu Alfaro, with his accurately materialized kuroi.
We pursued this attitude to materialize the proposal. A project that seeks to synthesize part of the tradition of the place with a materialization that represents a constructive innovation. Source by Fran Silvestre Arquitectos.
Image © Fran Silvestre Arquitectos
Location: Cairo, Egypt
Architect: Fran Silvestre Arquitectos
Interior Design: Alfaro Hofmann
Principal in Charge: Fran Silvestre, María Masià, Sevak Asatrián, Miguel Massa, Anna Alfanjarín, David Cirocchi
Collaborators: Pablo Camarasa, Ricardo Candela, Estefanía Soriano, Carlos Lucas, Judith López, José María Ibañez, Jose Manuel Arnao, Andrea Baldo, Paloma Feng |, Javi Herrero, Paco Chinesta, Gino Brollo, Angelo Brollo, Laura Bueno, Toni Cremades, Gabriela Schinzel, Lucas Manuel, Nuria Doménech, Andrea Raga, Olga Martín, Víctor González, Pepe Llop, Anahí Aguilera, Awab Bek, Monike Teodoro, Gemma Aparicio
Financial Manager: Ana de Pablo
Marketing and communication manager: Sara Atienza
Financial Dept.: Valeria Fernandini
Administration Dept.: Sandra Mazcuñán
Marketing Technician: Andrés Martínez, Kateryna Spuziak
Structural Engineer: Estructuras Singulares
Year: 2022
Images: Courtesy of Fran Silvestre Arquitectos
Image © Fran Silvestre Arquitectos
Image © Fran Silvestre Arquitectos
