The 1:10 model for this unique bungalow, whose patented design allows its inhabitant to transform the interior configuration through a manual mechanical system, was presented at the Milan Design Week in April 2019 and won the A’ Design Gold Award 2019. In the following months, Beatrice Bonzanigo with partner Ryan Nesbitt founded Casa Ojalá srl, based in Milan, to develop the model into full-scale production. The 1:1 prototype is currently under construction and the first deliveries are expected by the end of 2020.
Casa Ojalá is a small, 27 sq m house with more than 1,000 interior configurations working in synchrony without ever changing the original structure and shape. It is designed to give guests a distinct and exclusive experience, control over their environment while deeply immersed in their surroundings.
Casa Ojalá has two bedrooms, one double and one single bed, a bathroom, a rooftop terrace, and a living space, all of which can be continuously transformed into one another. A bedroom becomes a living room, the living room becomes an extension of the bathroom, the house becomes an outdoor platform, etc. The flexibility of the space is made possible by a manual mechanical system composed of pulleys and cranks, that controls sliding walls, made in fabric and wood, and movable floor and ceiling panels. Built in central furniture that can be divided into seven slices provides essential functions; wardrobe, bedside tables, bookshelf, sink, and can be pulled out for use or hidden under the floor for storage.
Once assembled, as the house is controlled through its manual mechanical system, it does not need any external assistance. It includes a rainwater collection system and can be equipped with photovoltaic panels and systems for handling clean, gray and black water for truly “off-grid” locations. It is best suited for mild climates, but includes a bio-ethanol stove to combat chilly evenings.
Beyond the day to day mutations, which are fully controlled by the guest, nearly all of the surfaces; metal, wood and fabric are customisable for each individual Casa Ojalá to recall local traditions and motifs. These options, combined with a choice in environmentally sensitive and sustainable fixtures and furnishings, allow Casa Ojalá to perfectly assimilate with its intended destination, as unique as its owner and location.
Italy is renowned worldwide for its design, raw materials and superb craftsmanship and Casa Ojalá raises the bar yet again. The simplicity and elegance of her groundbreaking patented design belie the intricacies of her meticulously laid out mechanical systems and the infinite possibilities encapsulated in its mere 27 sq m footprint.
Detailed engineering work to transform the design into executable drawings began in late summer 2019 by a team of structural and mechanical engineers based in Brescia, together with the Casa Ojalá team. A complex three dimensional model was developed allowing the design to be tested for strength and durability. Each of the mechanical systems was laid out to the millimeter, ensuring smooth functionality and feasibility as they work together in such a confined space. A general contractor based in Lissone, outside Milan, will transform the drawings into the finest steel and wood components as Casa Ojalá begins to take shape in their workshop.
In parallel, the Casa Ojalá team have travelled across Italy to find the finest suppliers for additional components; bathroom fixtures, woods, mechanical systems, bedding, fabrics, sheets, stove, lighting, depuration systems, photovoltaic systems, furniture and finishings. The team will hand select each and every item that will go into Casa Ojalá; an unrivaled dedication to quality and design that sets this house apart from others.
The full-scale prototype will be placed on site in the Italian countryside and made available to the press and prospective clients to experience in real life in the fall of 2020; site selection is in progress and will be announced in the coming months.
Interested customers will fill out a brief questionnaire, selecting their desired configuration, and make a small refundable deposit to hold their place in line. When their number comes up, the Casa Ojalá team schedules a customisation session, allowing the client to choose the woods, fabrics and finishes throughout, making each Casa Ojalá completely individual and helping it to blend in with the place where it will stand. After production, components are delivered onsite and assembled by the Casa Ojalá team, completing a fully white glove service.
Casa Ojalá is for the traveler seeking a new experience, one that immerses them in the surrounding nature, free from technology, yet without lacking the luxury of exquisite design and quality craftsmanship and the comforts of home in every thought-out detail. Casa Ojalá adapts to suit the needs of all who seek it out; in addition to individual clients, Casa Olajá lends itself to the entrepreneur or boutique hotel looking to create a truly novel hospitality experience with either a single unit or several in a “distributed hotel” format.