The client for this project owns a slipper factory, exporting slippers to America, Europe, and Japan. The program called for two small houses—a weekend house for the client and a house for his employee, who lives onsite full time and manages the factory and its warehouse, which will be moved to this location.

Design concept and solution: The architect designed two houses that are carefully separated yet include closely interconnecting spaces. Structural brick walls remain unplastered, appearing from the outside as a cluster of rooms with different heights. Inside, the kitchen and courtyards of each family’s house surround four corners of a large central table shared by both houses. Each family cooks facing the other, and eats together if desired.