The resulting form proposes a dialogue between a range of different solids and voids, creating a variety of covered and uncovered patios.

Located on an impressive sloping site in Estoril, a neighbourhood of Lisbon facing a woody valley, these symmetrically mirrored houses propose an arrangement of several solids trying to attenuate the overall mass due to a huge functional program requested by the client.

A set of regulations, defined by the city council urbanistic project, from distances to borders, maximum height, total amount of construction area and volume were also conditions to be addressed and surpassed.

The resulting form proposes a dialogue between a range of different solids and voids, creating a variety of covered and uncovered patios, where light and shadow is used to emphasize form and proposes a changeable reading of space and volume during the day.

The screening/shading devices create textured rhythm in some facades of the house emphasizing volumes and controlling the relationships between external and internal spaces.

Both houses play with concrete, wood and white plaster finishes, trying to create pleasant spaces. Some circulations, as the staircases, are in white painted metal slightly detached from the walls, leaving an opportunity for light to pass in between.

ARCHITECT: Jorge Mealha, Carcavelos, Porugal, www.jorgemealha.com. CLIENT: Mafalda Cayolla. LOCATION: Estoril, Lisbon, Portugal. STATUS: Under Construction. AREA: 388.50 sq m. PROJECT TEAM: Arch. João Sítima, Arch. Luís Banazol, Arch. Pedro Pereira, Arch. Ricardo Manaia, Arch. Rita Melancia. DATE: 2004.
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