P3 House

The project started with a site in Constanta, Romania, which has two major advantages – its position 50m from the beach and unobstructed views to the South. There was an existing two story house on the site that had suffered multiple aesthetic interventions during the last 20 years.

The architectural solution started with maintaining the initial volume of the building, but at the same time simplifying its geometry while adding a second floor. The resulting image is simpler, more modest, with Mediterranean influences and a particular attention to details. The new story is recessed from all four sides so as to reduce its visual impact.

Functionally, the house is structured horizontally in two – all the secondary spaces face North, to the street, with smaller windows; all livable rooms face South, with larger windows and views to the sea.

The new third floor is accessed separately by an added exterior circular staircase and is made up by a studio apartment with a terrace and generously sized windows, with spectacular views to the sea, beaches and the city’s sillhouette.

All architectural elements were designed in detail, like the spiral staircase, wood front door and railings. Particular attention was paid to exterior design, with details such as the slab paths, exterior shower and custom made furniture.

The garden is an intimate space thanks to the 2m elevation form the back of the site, where it joins with a path and has a secondary access towards the beach. The shrubery on the sides of the site will create, in time, a visual filter for the adjoining properties, and the creeper species will hide the neighbouring house’s wall. The only existing tree on the site was kept, even though it partially obstructs views to the south.

The interior design contrasts with the simplicity of the exterior because the client opted for a more classical image, with Spanish colonial style influences, found in elements like the railing, the finishes, or the large glass and wood doors.