Articles by Valentina Villa

“Emerge” is a one hundred square foot structure designed to hold small gatherings of teachers and students visiting the Bauman Tree Farm. It is a collaboration between the College of Architecture at the University Lincoln-Nebraska, the tree farm, and The DR Johnson Lumber Mill. 

Architecture is a snapshot of our current way of living. It is a synthesis of humanity in a time specific period. After the industrial revolution with the increasing reproduction of mass media, the introduction of new materials and new ways of transportation; the idea of a traditional interior space was transformed into a dialogue between interior and exterior. This change also challenged the boundaries of private and public spaces.  

From a functional point of view the brief and the relative small area of the plot imposed a vertical development of the structure. The house is designed for a young family of four, and applies the organisation principles of a single storey residence to the vertical condition of the site. 

This two-storey building is a renewal project. The program of the first floor is set as the client’s studio and living space in the second floor. This client who treasures everything relating to this old house requested us to reserve the architectural symbols with the local memory and history in this old house. Hence, the design team repaired and re-created the architectural elements and components which are common to be seen in Taiwan. For example, the form of Chinese arch has represented as the symbol for the window. The existing terrazzo material, the steel handrail with flower patterns and the wood construction were well-reserved. Our design team attempted to present a modern style of contemporary living space, where has been installed in this conservative building.

The St. Joseph project is a luxury residential development situated in Abbottsford, Victoria. Due to its historical significance the site has become part of the cultural landscape within the area, demanding a highly responsive and respectful design outcome. Our primary objective was to incorporate the critical components of school’s culture and history as a celebration and balance of the past and the future – creating ‘future heritage’ for the next generation.

House of Switzerland Pavilion emerges with the celebration of the seventy years of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Mexico, Dellekamp Arquitectos began to work on the project without a defined program and site, so a modular system was designed based on a triangular grid that allows adaptation to different locations and changing needs of the program, which allowed transformations during the design process. This adaptability feature allows it to be itinerant and a location to multiple sites without damaging the environment.

The interior of this photographic studio is situated in a former factory surrounded by buildings of a similar form and nature. For many years, the building housed a welding workshop. As time went by, its industrial interior required adjustments to make it more suited to the conditions needed for production processes. Welding machinery and metal presses filled up the interior from the floor up to the ceiling. It is clear that throughout the years, the interior of the building has undergone thorough changes in comparison to its initial condition, and the specific type of industrial processes has contributed to its degradation. The east-facing wall of the building, which had been stripped off of practically all windows, was its most damaged part. When the remaining layers of plaster were removed, clear evidence of intervention into the structure of the original wall appeared around the windows. This had doubtlessly been prompted by the technological requirements for the type of machinery used inside.

Awarded 2nd place nationally in 2016 for the best wooden construction in Slovenia, The Wooden House is a residential building embodying the elusive architectural quality of blurring the line between external and internal spaces. The Wooden House was designed with the intent to provide a resilient shelter from adverse weather, whilst creating the internal environment replicating the sensation of being outdoors. Soft wooden interiors are shielded by a durable outer shell.

Designing process

“Woof Shadow” building is a 5-storey building with 10 apartments, located in a middle class block in Tehran. Our main challenge to start designing was restrictions on implmenting the effective ideas in project, and designing some details after developing the structure. However, in the process of project design, a balance was made between employers’ demands, main ideas in design and participation in construction which led to changes in plan and other elements. Ultimately the building was developed.  The project tried to provide continuity in the whole project through alignment of design lines and corners.

The clients wanted a house they could live in for at least 25 years. A home that would grow with the family, anticipating and accommodating different needs at each stage. That could adapt to their young children’s requirements as they grew into adulthood, and where they could comfortably accommodate grandparents in the near future. They asked for a practical, low maintenance house and garden, filled with light and water features and blurred distinctions between the indoors and outdoors.