The site offered various design opportunities. A sloping landscape allowed a rainwater collection system to be created to sustain the existing farming practices. A steep four-meter drop preceded by flat land allowed the building to be tucked into the landscape with minimal cutting. The southern side is sunken along this drop, mitigating heat gain, while the northern side opens to the landscape and takes advantage of the light. The rooftops are filled, lending a sense of continuity to the landscape, increasing thermal mass, keeping the spaces underneath cool, and offering opportunities for small-scale farming above.

The client’s initial requirements for a farmhouse, which would be used occasionally, did not warrant building such a scale, so suggestions were made to amend the brief. Instead, Spaces are designed to be flexible and host various functions, fulfilling one of the primary design objectives to support the local community and its activities. The alternate built and unbuilt configuration allows functions to occur within the caves and spill out onto the open courts. For instance, classes for local school children may be conducted within the caves, while the open courts may be used as spill-out spaces for children to eat and play. In addition, the open court can transition between the classroom and the open ground to the north, with the stairs becoming seating spaces to watch. In another instance, it may take on programs to support the thriving local artisans and craftspeople. With its niches, the sunken passageway to the north could become displays of the artisans’ work, while the caves and open courts could become workshops for artisans to practice, teach, and sell their work.