For the past three decades, we have been studying, researching and developing architectures focused on Man and its Way of Living. We believe in architecture as a sensorial and emotional experience and we understand that space must have, as a common denominator, the happiness and well-being, both physical and psychological, of each of its users.

12 years ago, our CEO Nuno Lacerda Lopes had just finished defending his doctoral thesis where he developed an extensive study about the project and the new ways of inhabiting. Several years later, and based on our extensive experience in this field, we consider that the exceptionality of the current circumstances, where all assumptions, spaces and functionalities are called into question – pushed to the limit – require and justify an approach capable of launching guidelines for a new way of inhabiting.

Partindo da lógica local de oposição e de contrastes, recupera-se a fachada do edifício anexo voltada para a Rua da Ribeira Nova, que receberá agora os espaços destinados a café/restaurante, sala polivalente e átrio de distribuição.

Sobre esta “base”, de caráter pesado, maciço e de Passado “preenchido”, surge um novo volume, de vidro, leve e espelhado, de carácter imaterial, que reflete Lisboa, o Presente e o Futuro e assume o ideal de oposições presente no projeto. Este volume, que acolherá as salas de formação, é um “corpo”, claro, fluído e cristalino, que “ora se vê, ora se evapora”, e consubstancia também uma referência ao elemento água que está na origem da memória coletiva daquele lugar e dos Banhos de São Paulo.

Na cobertura deste volume, projeta-se um amplo espaço de estar, um miradouro voltado para o Jardim Dom Luís e para o Rio Tejo, explorando as vistas privilegiadas deste local e, de certo modo, abrindo a Ordem dos Arquitetos ao público, de uma forma democrática e clara, possibilitando a fruição deste espaço ao transeunte, ao turista, ao cidadão.

Por último, “flutuando” sobre o “corpo de vidro”, quase em desequilíbrio, apresenta-se um novo volume, denominado de “Black Box”. Este elemento permite, urbanisticamente, rematar o gaveto e atribuir-lhe a escala e proporção adequadas. Porém, assume-se como parte essencial da solução: trata-se de um espaço em aberto e inacabado, uma “Black Box”, um espaço único, destinado à sempre nova e disruptiva utilização por parte dos arquitetos membros da OA, seja para a realização instalações, exposição de peças de arte, ou até para a promoção de ações de divulgação de caráter arquitetónico e urbanísticos aos visitantes do terraço panorâmico.

O terreno com 2.311,00 sq.m, encontra-se inserido numa zona predominantemente residencial de habitações unifamiliares com jardim, na União de Freguesias de São Mamede de Infesta e Senhora da Hora, Concelho de Matosinhos.

A habitação de tipologia T4, terá uma área de implantação de 555,00 sq.m e um total de área útil de construção de 525,00 sq.m. A área bruta de construção será de 628,00 sq.m.

Relativamente aos afastamentos importa referir que a implantação segue o alinhamento das restantes construções na rua. O muro exterior de limite da propriedade e que constitui a frente urbana para a rua, será novo, rebocado e pintado de branco, garantindo as entradas necessárias para a habitação e para o estacionamento.

The site of the intervention, with 443,50 sq.m, is inserted in a predominantly residential area of single-family houses and is located at Rua 14, nº 425, in the parish and municipality of Espinho.

The main objective of the intervention was the development of a solution that complies with the defined functional program and respect for the environment, while trying to enhance the use of the land and its characteristics.

The project proposes the construction of new walls, at a uniform height, aligned with the lowest roof level of the existing construction. In order to make the route more dynamic and to bring natural light into the interior of the dwelling, it is proposed to open a new courtyard, on which all the interior compartmentalization will develop.

The new proposal creates a transparent and communicating space where all the functions of the new dwelling can be carried out in direct connection with the exterior but in a protected way with a subtle design of facade planes, cutting out differentiating geometries thus characterizing the design of the central courtyard which is the heart and identity of the whole project, making it distinctive.

The access to the dwelling is made through the 14th Street and the sidewalk, one accesses an entrance patio that takes the user in a promenade of access to the dwelling, crossing a garden, until reaching the central patio, where the entrance is located. Once inside, one accesses an atrium where a screen separates the entrance area from the living room and the dining area, keeping the space fluid and continuous. The circulation is made around the courtyard, accompanying the large glass cloths.

The solution presented has as main objective to value and provide the place with an essential facility for the enjoyment of the values of the beach and the sea in general, aimed at a very comprehensive type of population, ranging from the common tourist using a nearby beach to the casual passer-by.

The construction has a single floor, occupying an area of 195.70 sq.m, being 149.30 sq.m referring to the bar and 46.4 sq.m referring to the beach support itself; it also includes an outdoor uncovered terrace with a useful area of 80.00 sq.m. The space destined to the bar is composed by a living room, sanitary installations, balcony, kitchen and other accessory compartments that perform the function of providing support and conditions of use to these, more important in the morphology of the bar.

The beach support, consists of male and female changing rooms and toilets with independent access directly from the outside, as well as a compartment in each of these spaces for people with reduced mobility. It also includes a beach support warehouse and an information and assistance/surveillance post, a telecommunications line for emergency communications.

The construction of the beach support will be executed in reinforced concrete in sight. Inside, will be used in a general way plaster based finishes on the ceilings and walls and paint with the exception of wet areas, where will be used waterproof and washable coatings.
The volume of the outdoor esplanade will have a structure in painted steel profiles, in order to reduce its erosion, next to a wooden slat that can protect its users from the strong sun exposure in this area, especially in summer.