The house is located on a south-facing, rectangular farmland plot, on a descending slope to the South (next to the public road), and overlooking the Castle of Ourém.
There is a difference in height between the highest point and the lowest point of approximately 4.50m.
The project draws from the universal archetypal representation of a house, a pentagon composed by five lines representing the walls and the roof.
The main aim is to satisfy the architectural requirements that are part of the architect owner’s formal and spatial imaginary, as well as the family’s functional needs.
The building form follows the archetypal pentagon, trying not to distort from its principle. The pergola assumes the same design, as an extension from the house.
The house was developed based on the modular composition principle, creating a proper rhythm in the façades and roofing. The constructive method adopted consists in the use of prefabricated black concrete panels, with a regular dimension, that defines the stereotomy of the project, since it is composed of repeated modules arranged sequentially. The use of black concrete as a material aims for a smooth integration in harmony with the landscape, as well as reduce maintenance costs.
In formal terms, the house results in a simple and perfectly regular volume, almost monolithic, that lands on the ground, in the longitudinal direction of its inclination, in an intermediate point overlooking the street.

Filipe Saraiva Arquitectos

The post House in Ourém was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.

The project consists of the challenging renovation of an apartment unit located in an abandoned early 20th century listed building in the heart of Valencia.
The approach to the project was guided by the ambition to create distinct, yet fluid, modern living spaces while leaving undisturbed the existing structure; the introduction of non-conventional partition walls made the entire depth of the space visible and interconnected.
Separation between night and day areas is provided by two tall wooden elements. These custom designed elements also contain the bedroom wardrobes and three sets of doors allowing varying degrees of privacy.
The ceiling height was also deemed a particularly valuable element in the renovation. The structure of the roof was restored and kept fully exposed, with no element of the new design in contact with it, underlining the respect for the past and also enabling the full sense of space and volume of the apartment to be perceived.
One more tool utilized to emphasize the special quality is the “direction” of the design elements. The wooden wardrobes, the full-height white curtains and the tall ladder accentuate the verticality of the space.
In turn, the long kitchen worktop, the white plasterboard pedestal and its line of light enhance the horizontal dimension.
The project introduces a contemporary design language, while enhancing the character and materiality of the old space. By only adding essential new features, “wounds” and layers of transformations over the years were carefully retained and displayed to enhance the sense of continuity with the building’s history.

Roberto di Donato Architecture

The post Apartment Musico Iturbi was originally published on ek magazine | Architectural Publications | ek magazine – Architectural Publications.