The
architects have succeeded in creating a design that responsively merges
in with the neighbouring buildings on the one hand while interpreting
recurring Lisbon traditions on the other. The typical parcel of land on
which the townhouse stands is a mere six metres wide but 15 metres long,
and reaches all the way from the street to a garden at the back of the
property. The five storeys of the building are aligned to the eave and
storey heights of the neighbouring houses for a uniform frontage.
However,
the front and rear elevations could not differ more in terms of
materials and character. On the private side of the house, expanses of
glass provide unimpeded views of the small secluded garden and the city
beyond. In contrast, the pale limestone typical of Lisbon gives the
street facade a closed look.
A
grid of horizontal and vertical limestone elements forms a rhythmic
structure at the front and provides it a sense of depth. Depending on
the position of the sun, this effect is underscored by a play of light
and shade that changes with the subtle light of morning and the strongly
contrasting shadows of the afternoon. The horizontal strips make the
storeys clearly legible, while room-high window elements open up the
façade and find increasing use the higher the building gets. Down on the
street level it was the architects' intention to close the building
almost completely off to the street with its parked cars and
passers-by.
A
garage and storage room are located along with a living room on the
ground floor. Since the plot falls in height towards the garden, the
staircase in the storey below leads directly to the green outdoor space
where a splendid linden tree grows. The generously-proportioned kitchen
on the basement level forms a visual continuum with the garden, where
natural stone enclosure walls enhance the broader sense of space.
Inside,
the house presents itself in a restricted choice of materials. The
firewalls, ceilings and the inner functional and access core are built
of exposed concrete made with wooden shuttering, and form the building's
basic load-bearing structure. Doors and certain partition walls in
birch introduce a feeling of warmth to the rooms.
The
highlight of the house is the roof garden on the fifth and uppermost
floor. Hidden away behind the limestone elements of the street
elevation, it does not have the feel of a usual roof patio but is more
like an indoor space from which the ceiling and windows have been
removed. At the same time it forms a transition between the two
neighbouring buildings of differing height, and offers outlooks onto
Lisbon that make it possible to gain an impression of the city's size.
On
every storey there is also the possibility to step outside onto a
balcony and open the house up completely to the garden side. On the
street side, views into the house are almost completely blocked off for
visual privacy. The overall effect is one of a harmonious balance of
open and closed facades.
Structural engineer: SAFRE, Projectos e Estudos de Engenharia Lda.
M&E and home security: Energia Técnica - Gabinete de Engenharia, Lda
Contractor: Manuel Mateus Frazão
Building area: 436 m²
Period of planning: 2010 - 2011
Period of construction: 2012 – 2013
M&E and home security: Energia Técnica - Gabinete de Engenharia, Lda
Contractor: Manuel Mateus Frazão
Building area: 436 m²
Period of planning: 2010 - 2011
Period of construction: 2012 – 2013
No comments:
Post a Comment