Habitação CL is a single-family house by the Artequitectos studio. The building was constructed on a plot of land with varied topography, which had a significant impact on its form and functional layout. The project was organised around a garden and a patio, which form the focal point of the residents’ lives. The overall design is distinguished by its simple, contemporary form and the use of natural materials such as concrete, wood and travertine.
The investors, with professional ties to education and the energy sector, showed a particular sensitivity to architecture both as a discipline and as a life experience from the outset. Their aim was to create a house with contemporary lines, restrained but expressive, in which the relationship with the environment, the simplicity of the forms and the authenticity of the materials used play an important role.
Architectural concept for Habitação CL
The basis of the project was the extension of the existing retaining wall located on the west side of the plot. This massive structural element became the beginning of the entire composition. The wall marked the boundaries of the plot, defined the foundation level of the house and created an elevated platform on which the building subtly rests. Thanks to this solution, the functional programme develops mainly on one level, adjacent to the garden, while maintaining the two-storey scale characteristic of the surroundings.
The house was designed as an inward-focused space to achieve an atmosphere of refuge. A sheltered garden became the focal point, enclosed to the north by a retaining wall. The result was a patio with a private, quiet and contemplative character, providing a natural centre for the residents’ lives.
Villa in concrete, wood and stone
The design of the house was developed with a clear hierarchy of functions. The lower storey, which is partially sunken into the ground, houses the ancillary spaces. The upper level houses the living areas, where the common and private areas are clearly separated. Each is in direct contact with its surroundings. The living spaces open up onto the garden, making the boundaries between the interior and the landscape seamless.
The materials used in the project were treated as the basic language of architecture. Raw concrete, left untreated, defines the structure and scale of the building. Thermally modified wood introduces texture and warmth. Travertine, carefully selected and used in moderation, completes the whole with durability and elegance.
Project name: Habitação CL
Design: Artequitectos
Lead architects: Nuno Filipe Azevedo and Vitor Manuel Oliveira
Location: Portugal
Total area: 500 sq m
Interior design: Alberto Sousa Interiores
Photography: Ivo Tavares Studio
Also read: single-family home | Concrete | Villas and residences | Modernism | whiteMAD on Instagram
