E D I F Í C I O F SPROJECT

P A U L O L U C A S

ARCHITECTS

R U I C A S A C A, L D A.

TO

F E S A R T E – S o c i e d a d e d e C o n s t r u ç õ e s , L d ª

CLIENT

S A N T A N A , S E S I M B R A

LOCATION

8 8 7 .0 0 m²

CONSTRUCTION AREA

2 0 1 1

PROJECT YEAR

2 0 1 2 / 2 0 1 3

CONSTRUCTION YEAR

RUI CASACA, LDA.

INFRASTRUCTURE CONSULTANTS

P A U L O L U C A S

PHOTOGRAPHER / 3 D

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

This proposal essentially seeks an optimal

solution between the default program and the

creation of a consistent relationship to the site.

In this sense, we opted for a building arranged

on four floors, with shops and garage at

ground floor and six dwellings distributed

across three upper floors.

The nearest surroundings already has a

density of buildings, mostly of multi-purpose

buildings for housing, commerce and services,

which have been consolidating the avenue,

which is also an important road connecting to

other clusters and is therefore one of important

factors in developing this project.

The project also took into account various

factors considered relevant in its surroundings,

including important elements in the territory, as

is the religious building from the 50's, the

Mother Church of Corredoura, and from a

more distant but no less important, the Castle

of Sesimbra .

Also the visual projection on the upper floors

of the valley of the Seven Paths to the south

and the mountains, and in particular the Mill,

are important elements that contrast with the

densified urban image. Moreover, the location

of building on the main artery of Santana,

which already has a lot of movement, could

become a problem in particular for the

residential spaces.

In this sense, the idea of this building is to

create an element that marks the Avenue,

since it is located near the new roundabout,

giving it some formality and sobriety

contrasting with the nearby surroundings, and

while most can contemplate the distant

surrounding. This formal character is

transmitted primarily by the more restrained

and closed image of the building, which retains

its facade in the foreground, in line with the

Avenue.

In terms of volume, it is proposed a

differentiation of the volume above, almost

monolithic,of the lower volume, which in spite

of the rearmost, is assumed as the basis of

the building. This thus allows to vary between

uses and at the same time creating a buffer

area covered access to shops and dwellings. It

is also proposed the creation of a framework

that emphasizes the marking of these

elements binding also the access to the

garage.

This differentiation between volumes is also

reaffirmed by the use of colors and materials,

highlighting the marking of the ground floor in a

darker tone, yet more glazed and the upper

floors in a lighter tone, which gives greater

contrast between light / dark with retreated

openings.

This retreat of glazing and balconies, thus

allows some privacy for residents while

maintaining the visual projection on the

surrounding, and minimizing their exposure to

the confusion and noise of the boulevard.

This marking is further accentuated by the coating of

these voids in wood, like the interior of the building,

opening up slightly outwards. The timber, besides being

a warmer and cozy material also contributes to a good

insulation.

Internally, each dwelling was organized in order to

return the more social spaces such as living rooms and

kitchens to areas of greater exposure of the building,

particularly to South, proposing on the other hand the

location of the rooms in the back side, thus protecting

these spaces of the boulevard noise. In the organization

and subdivision and of each dwelling, we tried to

centralize and minimize the circulation spaces in favor

of the other compartments, thus resulting in quite

generous areas.