A 550 sq m detached house designed by L2C Arquitetura was built on a sloping plot in the Portuguese city of Braga. The concept was based on the use of the significant difference in terrain height to create terraces and platforms. The concrete villa opens up to a panoramic view of the city and the picturesque mountain landscape.
Concrete villa – starting point
The plot has a distinct slope and an irregular layout, which forced the architects to take a specific approach to the design. To the east, the site is enclosed by a massive stone wall, while to the west, the property is bordered by the streets of Braga. The plot remained undeveloped for many years. While villas and smaller buildings sprang up around it, it created a gap in the continuity of the houses. The architects decided to adapt the composition of the new villa to the natural slopes instead of levelling them. The structure was created in close relation to the terrain by modelling successive levels and creating terraces.
Composition of horizontal planes
The concrete villa is based on a system of two horizontal slabs, offset from each other, which are cascaded on the slope. This solution made it possible to integrate the building into the slope without giving the impression of excessive massiveness. The structure faces south and west, where it opens up to picturesque views and daylight. Large glazed areas frame the landscape and bring it into the interior as an element of the design. The variation in height generates a sequence of spaces with different scales and degrees of privacy.
Concrete villa in Portugal
The dominant material is concrete, used in a very subtle way, yet distinct and left in its natural form, with the reflection of the boards. The uniform palette of raw materials emphasises the significant geometry of the building and its connection with the rocky ground. The roofs of the villa were shaped to visually reduce the size of the building and harmonise as well as possible with the neighbouring buildings. The retaining walls were built in line with the street, marking the edge of the plot and emphasising the relationship with the context. The entire CASA A project forms a very coherent composition, full of balance, timeless elegance and modernity.
Spaces with views of Braga
Access to the property is from Rua de Barros. The six-metre difference in height is overcome by a ramp, which provides a gradual transition from public to private, intimate and green space. Movement along the sloping surface allows you to observe the changing perspectives and prepares you for contact with the interior of the house. The outdoor areas are arranged in a cascade, giving them a clear hierarchy. The terraces lead towards the swimming pool, which offers a panoramic view of Braga. The interiors are quite simple, using natural wood, light surfaces and stylish furniture.
Project name: CASA A
Design: L2CArquitetura
Location: Braga, Portugal
Photographs: Ivo TavaresStudio
See also:Single-family house | Concrete|Minimalism|whiteMAD on Instagram |Portugal
