Within the coronary heart of San Sebastián, a compact 861-square-foot condo has undergone a radical transformation that challenges conventional notions of home design. Spearheaded by Spanish architect and designer Ismael Medina Manzano, the venture, often called the Unplanned Home Prototype, reimagines residing areas to mirror the evolving dynamics of Twenty first-century life. This experimental intervention serves as each a critique of mid-Twentieth-century housing insurance policies and a daring step towards adaptable, sustainable residing environments.
Constructed in 1966, the condo constructing initially adhered to the inflexible design ideas of the period’s Stabilization Plan, a 1959 Spanish initiative geared toward financial restoration. Housing items had been standardized, compartmentalized, and optimized for nuclear household residing – a mirrored image of the social norms and efficiencies valued on the time. Medina’s design disrupts these conventions, introducing a fluid, multi-functional structure that caters to the varied wants of contemporary inhabitants.
The venture pivots away from inflexible boundaries, fostering an setting that integrates flexibility and inclusivity. By breaking free from the constraints of conventional spatial group, the condo transforms right into a dynamic residing ecosystem able to accommodating numerous types of coexistence.
On the core of this reimagined house is a putting curved wall, crafted from inexperienced glazed ceramic tiles. This function is each a sensible and aesthetic innovation, functioning as a hub for storage and social interplay. Surrounding the wall are strategically positioned storage items, together with pantries, closets, and kitchen cabinetry, which dissolve the boundaries between purposeful and decorative design.
One finish of the wall seamlessly integrates with a mirrored showcase, concealing on a regular basis family home equipment. In one other space, a sandstone portal – crafted from regionally sourced stone – reveals the geological historical past of the area. This fusion of supplies connects the design to its geographical and cultural context, embodying a dialogue between structure and the setting.
Additional enhancing the condo’s versatility is a set of cell components. A movable kitchen island, constructed from repurposed granite, exemplifies the venture’s dedication to sustainability and adaptableness. Designed to orbit inside the house, the island might be reconfigured to go well with numerous actions and social gatherings. Different movable options embody stools comprised of reclaimed tree roots and furnishings crafted with supplies from native industries, corresponding to recycled aluminum and metal.
The incorporation of greenery provides one other layer of connectivity with nature. An inside irrigation system sustains cell vegetation, blurring the strains between inside and exterior areas and fostering a way of concord with the encompassing setting.
The Unplanned Home Prototype encapsulates Medina’s broader imaginative and prescient of structure as a way to handle societal and ecological challenges. By integrating native supplies, sustainable practices, and progressive design components, the venture underscores the significance of contextual reflection in residential structure. It’s a house not merely to inhabit however to have interaction with – a residing prototype that invitations its customers to redefine their relationship with domesticity and the setting.

Ismael Medina Manzano
For extra data on Ismael Medina Manzano and his work, go to ismaelmedinamanzano.com.
Pictures by Hiperfocal.