Caja Obscura - The Convertible House

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The Convertible House – We have a long history of appreciating architecture that artfully brings the outside world indoors. Caja Obscura by Laboratorio de Arquitectura is in a class of its own in this regard, a house with a convertible roof in rural Paraguay. When the day begins, a twist of a manual crank slowly raises the roof to a height that allows daylight and breezes into its interior.

The base of this convertible house is made from locally-sourced stones, patched together beneath a wrapping window that separates a concrete ceiling. The box above is composed of galvanized sheet metal on the outside, framed around a cage of iron bars. It is set on a pivot point that balances its weight carefully, making it easy to lift from the pully crank located on one end.

In the morning, afternoon and early evening, a home like this provides a connection with nature that few others can provide. We imagine you have to take the good with the bad, considering the lack of upper windows when the roof is closed, and the potential for insects during certain times of year. Ideally, a home like Caja Obscura is ideal for long weekends or summer trips, where the unique nature of this home is a point of celebration, not a long-term burden. Either way, it’s a refreshing idea that we hope will be explored in other iterations in the future. [architect: laboritorio de arquitectura photographer: pedro kok via: archdaily]

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