The Old Town of Seville has many restrictions on construction and renovation in order to maintain its historic character. In opposition to this “state of paralysis,” Casa Illegal, or “Illegal House,” presents a strategy for illegal construction on a rooftop.
After obtaining a “minor work license,” camouflage screens are installed on the rooftop site. Construction materials and equipment can then be moved by individuals or by trucks during the night. Manual tools are used to minimize noise. The camouflage can become part of the new structure, or be removed once construction is finished.
Santiago Cirugeda is an architect based in Seville who has proposed semi-legal strategies for housing and urban renovation under the name Recetas Urbanas, or “urban prescriptions,” since 1996. He inhabits gaps between laws, exploiting overlap and oversight to practice autonomous architecture.