Architects: Lama Arhitectura
Interactive Design: Andrei Tudor
Area: 180 m²
Year: 2015
Photography : Radu Malașincu

About Studio

Lama Architecture was born from our passion for sincere and quality architecture. With different ways of thinking but a shared vision, we are always trying to find the most natural approach toward the context and the design theme, whether it’s architecture or interior design.

We believe in niches and people that are passionate about what they do, in the freedom of expression and the experimental, in the power of a team, and in the normality of careful thinking.

After a careful analysis of the client requirements, the design theme, the program, the site, and the context of the future design object, we focus on finding an expressive and easy-to-identify logo. We believe that a good concept and an accurate analysis may quickly generate the identity of an architectural object and this can be ideally represented by a symbol.

For us, the logo is similar to the musical note: one may often recognize a masterpiece from only a few notes. Similarities between Architecture and Music are astonishing… Musical notes represent the matter out of which the architectural object takes shape: stone, wood, metal, concrete, brick or just ground, glass, and sometimes ice…

With only a handful of materials, architecture finds abundant resources and shapes. Space vibrates in a different manner, depending on the way it was generated and the material it consists of: it is either calm or agitated, warm or cold, soft or heavy, playful or sober.

The façade of the house also has metallic accents in another area.

The house's features are made up of a mix of glass, concrete, metal, and timber. — The house’s features are made up of a mix of glass, concrete, metal, and timber.

As you walk into the home, you can see the hardwood floors, a cemented ceiling connecting the glass ceiling that illuminates the living area. — As you walk into the home, you can see the hardwood floors, and a cemented ceiling connecting the glass ceiling that illuminates the living area.

Hardwood floors, yellow sofas, and glass doors leading outside can be found in the living room.

The opposite side of the living room features a fireplace with an unusual design, a TV on the side, and a bookshelf at the other side. — The opposite side of the living room features a fireplace with an unusual design, a TV on the side, and a bookshelf on the other side.

The kitchen contains hardwood, cement, tiles, unusual lighting, and full appliances.

The bedroom has particular wooden accents, white walls, and wooden flooring.

The ground level of the house has cement walls and floors, and the inside painting adds to the appeal of the home.

When you move upstairs the wooden structures was defined more. — When you move upstairs the wooden structures were defined more.

The lighting selection complemented the house's architectural features. — The lighting selection complemented the house’s architectural features.

In addition, the house is illuminated by glass as well as cement and timber elements. — In addition, the house is illuminated by the glass as well as cement and timber elements.

A lounge with oak floors and a view of the outdoors is on the property.

An infinity pool with lush grass by the side is a feature of the home's outdoor area. — An infinity pool with lush grass by the side is a feature of the home’s outdoor area.

The house's entire schematic layout. — The house’s entire schematic layout.

This project’s design theme was the consolidation and expansion of an existing house. The site for the project is located in Otopeni city, adjacent to Bucharest. It consists of a generous plot on which an old 100 sqm house was located. The house had a basement, ground floor, first floor, and attic.

The core of this project is the modern reinterpretation of the traditional pitched roof house, thus creating a dialogue between the two volumes, between past and present. The first step was to bring out the old house and have its character preserved. The extension is reinterpreted in a contemporary shape, like a concrete origami attached to the old house.

Seeking for a visual and spatial dialogue between the two volumes, unity was sought. The additional volume was designed to contain an airy living room area, whilst the original house would incorporate the remaining necessary spaces for a family home. The two volumes were placed on a large wooden deck, in order to create continuity.

An extension of the wooden deck also hosts the pool, the terrace, and a large jardiniere. The joining point between the two volumes marks the entrance. One is guided by the protection of the concrete canopy followed by the trail of sunshine from the skylight, towards the insides of the house.

The basement hosts a cellar and a utility room. The ground floor consists of the living room with its partially covered terrace in the extension area, together with the kitchen, dining room, lounge, wardrobe, and bathroom, contained by the original house volume. The living room is a dynamic, high-ceiling space, with clear, focused views toward the outside.

The original building had a loft conversion, where one can find the master bedroom with a dressing area and bathroom, a guest bedroom, and the children’s bedroom. From inside the children’s bedroom, through a ladder, a separate area used as a playroom can be accessed. This is positioned on top of the bathroom.

For the exterior design, the following materials were used: grey folded metal sheets for the roof, exposed concrete, wood, and recovered tiles from the original roof, used to decorate an external wall. For the interior design, the main used materials were: exposed concrete, protection mortar, wooden beams recovered from the original building, silver travertine plates, and oak floors.