Dezeen Magazine

Rotating walls offer alternative layouts for MJE House by PKMN Architectures

PKMN Architectures has renovated an apartment on the Spanish coast, adding modular storage walls that spin around to create extra bedrooms for guests (+ movie).

MJE House by PKMN Architectures

The Madrid-based studio designed the home for Maria Jose and Enrique – a couple who live in Mexico but who frequently travel to Europe.

The pair wanted a second home in Asturias, northwest Spain, which could adapt to accommodate their whole family when they visit.

MJE House by PKMN Architectures

"When Enrique and Maria Jose contacted us to design their apartment they were quite convinced about wanting to work with mobile furniture systems," architect David Pérez told Dezeen.

"They thought that it was the only way to solve the issues they were dealing with in relation to the apartment they'd just bought – a very badly arranged dwelling that didn't fit their needs at all."

MJE House by PKMN Architectures

"They wanted to have an apartment that could adapt to host a different number of people depending on the time of the year, but they didn't want to have their space divided into a lot of small rooms," he added.

MJE House by PKMN Architectures

The architects – whose past projects a half-submerged leisure and culture centre – replaced partitioning walls with floor-to-ceiling storage systems that pivot on small wheels.

MJE House by PKMN Architectures

"The apartment has the views towards the sea that the clients always dreamed of, but the existing partitions in the place didn't allow them to completely enjoy those views," said Pérez.

"The arrangement made with rotating partitions made it possible for them to have a very open space with a great panorama over the sea."

MJE House by PKMN Architectures

The rotating walls are made up of a light steel skeleton and panels of white coated wood. Along with integrated storage, each partition has a foldable bed attached.

MJE House by PKMN Architectures

MJE house is part of PKMN Architectures's Little Big Houses scheme, which it began in response to the country's lack of affordable housing, particularly in cities.

MJE House by PKMN Architectures

As part of the project, the studio also completed an apartment for a designer in Madrid – adding moveable library-style shelving units that that serve various functions.

MJE House by PKMN Architectures

"The main motivation for us when we initiated the project was to be able to offer a response to the problems that a large amount of people find today – that their home is made according to housing standards that became obsolete a long time ago," Pérez said.

MJE House by PKMN Architectures

"Most people living in cities can't even afford a home with one bedroom, and our lives change much faster than our houses are able to cope with," he added.

"We think that it should be our houses that adapt to us and to the changes in our lives – not us having to adapt to a space that is not capable to change."

MJE House by PKMN Architectures

Photography is by Javier de Paz García. Video is by Javier de Paz García and PKMN Architectures.



Project credits:

Author: PKMN Architectures
Client: María José García and Enrique A. Zepeda
Collaborators: Alessia Mansutti, Carol P Linares, Elena Cantoni and Alicia Coronel

MJE House by PKMN Architectures
Plan, layout one – click for larger image
MJE House by PKMN Architectures
Plan, layout two – click for larger image
MJE House by PKMN Architectures
Section, layout one – click for larger image
MJE House by PKMN Architectures
Section, layout two – click for larger image