Casa da Rocha Quebrada is a house built on the southern coast of São Miguel Island in the Azores. The building stands at the point where the land meets the Atlantic Ocean. Its form is ascetic, devoid of unnecessary gestures and focused on what is most important. Casa da Rocha Quebrada is primarily about materials and way of life.
House in the Azores
The project was carried out by SO Arquitetura & Design. The house in the Azores was built for the parents of one of the founders of the studio, which allowed the architects rare freedom in their design decisions. The lack of pressure from the investor and the necessary compromises opened the way for them to fully realise their vision. The plot was the last undeveloped parcel along the seaside promenade, so it required a form that would complete the entire layout. The shape of the house responds to the scale of the neighbouring buildings, while emerging from the exotic landscape like another layer of the rocky cliff.
A concrete house in the Azores as part of the landscape
The use of architectural concrete was dictated by the rather extreme conditions of the São Miguel Island coast. The material, resistant to salt, wind and the passage of time, allowed for the creation of a building with a raw, almost geological form. From the street, the building resembles a very ascetic, massive structure shaped by light and shadow. From the south, however, it opens up to the Atlantic. The view of the ocean appears in fragments, filtered through the vertical and horizontal concrete openings. The deep window recesses prevent any glimpse of the interior life of the house. From a distance, it looks like a ruin abandoned halfway through construction or a collection of shelves carved into the rock, which only reveal their function when viewed up close.
Minimalist interior warmed by wood
The austere atmosphere of the façade changes significantly inside. Concrete is combined with wood, filling the rooms with warmth and softness. The architects have adapted their layout to the everyday needs of the residents. Three bedrooms and an open living area are organised around an internal patio, providing daylight and natural air circulation. The minimalist interiors of the ground floor of Casa da Rocha Quebrada remain fluid, without clear divisions, but each element has a clearly defined role.
Design: SO Arquitetura &Design
Area: 315 sq m
Photos: Ivo TavaresStudio
See also:Single-family house|Concrete|Villas and residences|Modernism|whiteMAD on Instagram
