The central courtyard at Casa Las Olas is bounded by site-cast single pours of white concrete: a room within the jungle.
The formwork for the concrete consists of the thick ends of fallen palm stems. The stems are sectioned at lengths to allow random bending and stacking within each pour. The convex side of the stem faces the concrete to create a textural, undulating surface.
The opposing sides of the concrete walls are poured against smooth epoxied steel formwork to define massive abstract planes at each of the primary programs of the ground floor: living room, lounge, and kitchen. The pours (up to 16’ tall) were achieved without form ties.
Material Research with Vanderhorst & Ruiz SRL
Select photography by Iwan Baan
The formwork for the concrete consists of the thick ends of fallen palm stems. The stems are sectioned at lengths to allow random bending and stacking within each pour. The convex side of the stem faces the concrete to create a textural, undulating surface.
The opposing sides of the concrete walls are poured against smooth epoxied steel formwork to define massive abstract planes at each of the primary programs of the ground floor: living room, lounge, and kitchen. The pours (up to 16’ tall) were achieved without form ties.
Material Research with Vanderhorst & Ruiz SRL
Select photography by Iwan Baan