Enorme Studio and its «Home Laboratory».»
We interviewed Enorme Studio, an architecture and design studio in Madrid that brings residential architecture closer to citizens through active participation, oriented towards new lifestyles.
Huge Studio is an architecture and design studio in Madrid led by David Pérez, Carmelo Rodríguez and Rocío Pina that brings architecture closer to citizens through active participation. Their residential projects are oriented towards new needs and lifestyles and their «Domestic Laboratory» has become an international benchmark.
If you consume architecture publications, you've probably come across his work a few times. Giants like IKEA have taken him as a reference for future projects and soon NETFLIX will talk about one of his latest houses in “The Most Extraordinary Homes”.
How did the idea of the «Home Lab» come about and what does it consist of?
In Spain we have a very rigid type of housing and people need to adapt their housing to life changes. The departure of the children, the return home of the parents (hence the project Home back Home) working from home, living alone but needing a space for guests, increasingly smaller flats... The versatility of this project allows you to make the most of the space and this is a need that in one way or another, almost all of us have.
By means of mobile systems we package the uses of the house and make spaces of double and triple use. We think of the house with a new dimension: time and the different moments of the day. That is why we design 3 or 4 different floors for the same space. A 40 m2 house can be transformed into a 70-80m2 house in terms of enjoyment.
Did you find it difficult to communicate such a different concept of home?
Yes and no. When the first housing was published in 2014 it was a boom. In the first year we received more than 50 budget requests. Many people identified with us because we responded to the needs they had. However, from budgeting to actually taking the step to do it is more complicated. Most of the population is still thinking about other housing possibilities. The «Domestic Laboratory» is a project for the brave. What gives us most satisfaction is that once the work is done, everyone is surprised. It is difficult to get the idea until you see it finished.
In terms of budget: What is the difference between a traditional reform and a proposal like yours?
Around 30% over and above a normal refurbishment project. It should be borne in mind that it is not just a question of aesthetics or custom-made furniture. It affects the structure of the house. It is a complete project in which every detail is studied in order to multiply the space and this requires architects and many hours of work.
Where does this different way of understanding architecture come from?
We were among the first generations in Spain to enter a profession that used to be an elite profession, passed down through the generations, from the middle class. We do not come from families of architects and in this sense we believe that we have a different type of sensitivity and reference points for how we approach the way we work, the discourse as designers, and this is reflected in the design processes we develop.
Outside the strictly residential sphere, Enorme Studio is always involved in participatory projects. Why?
We believe that citizens should not be mere spectators of the city and we have put this into practice in the ephemeral installations and public spaces we have worked on. As architects, we have technical training, but we find the discussions in the design phases with the future users very interesting. In the end, they feel that they have helped to make it a reality and that it has part of them, their personality, their needs.
Involving the client has its risks. How do you ensure that their participation does not result in endless changes?
The main thing is to be clear about the use of space and the things that will be relevant. Although it is an open design, it is very important to establish rules of the game because not everything can always be done. Communication here is especially important, there is a shared conversation that needs to be continually refreshed and made to understand that sometimes, after a decision, there are points of no return.
As architects, what do you like most about Madrid?
The Paseo del Prado, for example, is very interesting and the most monumental buildings show an era and a very particular life in Madrid. But we like Madrid more at street and neighbourhood level. The diversity and how people live this city. The public spaces and urban landscapes that we like the most are the ones that people enjoy the most. We believe that architecture must be lived by people.
