Casa Aire in Medellin by Cinco Solidos.
Photo by Anna Dave.
Photo by Anna Dave.
Photo by Anna Dave.
Photo by Anna Dave.
Photo by Anna Dave.
Photo courtesy of 5 Sólidos.
Photo by Anna Dave.
Photo by Anna Dave.
In Medellín, Colombia, atop a bluff that overlooks the valley, is a house that kisses the clouds. Aptly named Casa Aire, or House of Air, it moves you along with the breeze, quietly, weightlessly, towards a handkerchief balcony that appears to somewhere meet the mountains. With a spirit so zen, you’d imagine it to belong to a retired couple. Or a quiet family looking to escape city life. Anyone really, but a best-selling mega artist with over 35 million records. But for Colombian music sensation, J Balvin, the home—designed by Daniel Correa, María José Fernández and Elisa Ortega of Medellín-based architecture and design studio Cinco Sólidos—is a quiet respite from Colombia’s hustle and bustle—and the perfect place to ruminate.
For a house that belongs to someone high-profile, the air at Casa Aire is remarkably still. The living room flows into a semi-covered terrace by way of a small circulation area, while glass doors conjure an illusion of depth between the outdoor and indoor spaces.
Influencing Emotions: Casa JL in Medellin by Cinco Sólidos.
In this magnificent house, the studio focused on the relationship between the architecture and its surroundings as the starting point…
Photo by Anna Dave.
Photo by Nick Wiesner.
Photo by Nick Wiesner.
Photo courtesy of 5 Sólidos.
Photo courtesy of 5 Sólidos.
Photo courtesy of 5 Sólidos.
Photo courtesy of 5 Sólidos.
Photo courtesy of 5 Sólidos.
Photo by Anna Dave.
Photo courtesy of 5 Sólidos.
The bedrooms are sequestered away in the right wing and connected by a large deck with an outdoor living space, dining area, pool and elevated basketball court. “Each bedroom becomes an extension of the rest of the house, and each carries an equal blend of understated elegance and playfulness,” say Daniel, María and Elisa. The primary bedroom is also a fitness haven, with a small perpendicular wing that connects to a small gym and spa.
“These contrasts disrupt the sleek, structured architectural elements and hark to the organic surroundings,” say the designers. By the same token, natural light diffuses through the spaces, connecting one room with the next and permeating every corner of each. For the designers, of course, there were no rules when it came to lighting: task and ambient lighting were used with equal gusto, in a bid to create unexpected colour contrasts and transform the energy of the home during the night.
Ballen House in Retiro, Colombia by LCLA office with Clara Arango.
This Andes Mountain retreat in Colombia blurs the boundaries between interior and exterior and, by extension, between architecture and nature…
Photo courtesy of 5 Sólidos.
Photo courtesy of 5 Sólidos.
Photo courtesy of 5 Sólidos.
Photo by Nick Wiesner.
Photo courtesy of 5 Sólidos.
Photo courtesy of 5 Sólidos.
Photo courtesy of 5 Sólidos.
Photo courtesy of 5 Sólidos.
Photo courtesy of 5 Sólidos.
Photo courtesy of 5 Sólidos.
Photo courtesy of 5 Sólidos.
In some places, the home feels as if it’s merged into the forest—the dining room, a classic case in point. Characterised by a glass structure with a small tree, it also offers views of the bonsai by the entrance.
As for the furniture, the moss and daisy tones, and stone finishes, appear as if they could have been magicked out of the surrounding landscape. With nature and nest at such close quarters, there’s no doubt that the home is a sanctuary for the senses.
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[Images courtesy of 5 Sólidos. Photography by Anna Dave & Nick Weisner.]
