Underhouse Plug-In

underhouse plug-in

underhouse plug-in There is a strange phenomenon occurring in the Bosques de las Lomas neighborhood, an upscale region located in northwestern Mexico City built on an area of canyons characterized by its rugged terrain.

Houses have been built on top of concrete structures reaching up to eight stories high. These vacant architectures -which contain nothing inside them- support false flat terrains and generate residual space, economic waste and an excessive building surface.

The Plug-In iniciative attempts to densify the area by transforming these wasted structures into containers for student housing, reinterpreting the unused underhouse constructions as an urban shelf in which the required purposes can be placed.

In addition to the connecting capabilities of each housing module, Plug-In’s are constructed based on a precast catalog, allowing each lodger to choose their favored combination for living. A flexible alternative for furniture -alterable and interactive- according to the needs of each user.

ENVIRONMENT A JUVENILE ATMOSPHERE GENERATES NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS AND WALKING DESTINATIONS IN AN OTHERWISE VEHICULAR ZONE

UNDERHOUSE PLUG-IN INTERCONNECTING MODULES PLACED INSIDE RESIDUAL CONCRETE UNDERHOUSE STRUCTURES NORTH ELEVATION

COMPOSITION USERS DECIDE THEIR OWN LOCATION, COMBINATIONS AND CONNECTIONS

FLEXIBLE FURNITURE A WIDE CATALOG OF ALTERABLE FURNITURE RANGING FROM WALLS, FLOORS, CEILINGS & DESIGN ELEMENTS

MAIN FACADE

SOUTH ELEVATION

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNATTRACTIVE AND UNUSED SPACES

CONNECTION CAPABILITIES ENABLE COUNTLESS COMBINATIONS

PLUG-INS: HOUSING MODULES ORGANIZED & PLACED MECHANICALLY

STUDENT ACCOMODATIONS PLUG-IN CATALOG PROVIDED WITH SERVICE & COMMERCE CORES

PLUG-IN CATALOG DESIGN OPTIONS FOR CREATING FLEXIBLE SPACES

1. WALLS BREAKFAST BAR

FOLDING BED

DESK

WINDOW

PICTURE WINDOW

SLIDING WINDOW

SLIDING DOOR

1. Place wall piece vertically.

2. Fold wall frontward.

1. Place wall piece vertically.

2. Fold wall frontward.

1. Place wall piece vertically.

2. Fold wall frontward.

1. Place wall piece vertically.

1. Place wall piece vertically.

1. Place wall piece vertically.

1. Place wall piece vertically.

3. Fold again.

4. Rest folded panels on horizontal peg.

3. Fold again and rest on the floor.

4. Place matress to convert into bed.

3. Fold again and rest on the floor.

4. Fold back, rest panel on peg and place chair.

2. Leeet the sun shine in. ♫

2. Leeet the sun shine in. ♫

2. Slide glass. Leeet the sun shine in. ♫

2. Slide privacy.

2. CEILINGS

3. FLOORS

LADDER

1.Place ceiling horizontally.

SKYLIGHT

piece

2. Pull string down to reveal ladder.

1.Place ceiling horizontally.

door

for

4. OTHER

SEAT

BRIDGE

DOUBLE HEIGHT

BALCONY

piece

1. Place floor piece horizontally.

2. Fold strip upward.

1. Place wall pieces vertically.

2. Lift floor tiles to reveal secondary tiles.

1. Place floor on top of desired space.

2. Lift panel dismantle.

and

1. Place wall piece vertically.

2. Fold wall frontward and slide lower floor for additional support.

2. Leeet the sun shine in. ♫

3. Fold again, resting first panel on the floor.

3. Fold again, rest last panel on peg.

3. Secondary tiles conform link between.

4. Place tiles on the floor and connect.

3. The four resulting panels conform the railing.

4. Assemble and place around gap.

3. Remaining panels conform the railing.

4. Embed railing for security and support.