House on Monte da Virgem
- House, Project & Construction
- Oliveira do Douro, Vila Nova de Gaia, 1987/1995
- Photography: JMF
The house in Monte da Virgem, V.N. de Gaia, features a T3 layout, designed for a family that values family and social gathering spaces, as well as its direct relationship with the adjacent outdoor areas.
The land
The house is situated on a wooded plot with an unobstructed horizon. However, the steep slope to the west made the land too exposed to street traffic. On the other hand, there was a shortage of flat and comfortable outdoor areas. The project was tasked with resolving these issues and accommodating the desired house on the land, creating conditions for comfortable enjoyment.
The project
Thus, the protection of privacy within the property is ensured by the extensive west-facing facade. This forms an effective barrier against intrusion on the land. The "U" shaped layout of the house creates a sheltered courtyard, protected from wind, street noise, and with great privacy. This configuration results in two south-facing facades, the best solar exposure and thermal comfort throughout the year.
The lower floor is "attached" to the land, to the east. It houses the entrance areas of the house, the garage, and the service areas. The entrance to the house in Monte da Virgem is divided into two spaces: a vestibule and an adjacent reception room. The vestibule, with double height, is dominated by two elements with strong visual impact. One is the first flight of stairs leading to the upper floor. The other is a sink, symbolic of arriving home. These elements, and their surroundings, are both clad in Estremoz marble. The environment results, visually, in an impactful setting, given the large size of the marble slabs, the expressive force of their natural veining, and the harmony between the various pieces.
Family life takes place on the upper floor. Here, most of the living spaces have direct access to the outdoor courtyard. And from there, to the garden and the woods. The dining room and kitchen are only lit to the west, the former, and to the north and west, the latter. Both have access to the land via the exterior staircase that connects the balcony to the entrance garden of the house. The living room is equipped with large openings. To the east, to the outdoor courtyard, and to the west, to the street. In this way, the living room dominates the outdoor space of the property. This room is associated with a wellness area. This is equipped with a sauna and a hydro-massage tub, embedded in the floor. Here, the walls and floor are clad in meticulously matched Estremoz marble. This space is naturally lit to the south and has direct access to the garden.
The different levels of the living room floor correspond to distinct uses: family gathering, rest, and wellness. They add the necessary privacy and comfort to each of them. Here, the marble cladding of walls and floors accentuates the differentiation of the functions of the different spaces.
The bedrooms are arranged in sequence, along a corridor. This is lit by a skylight, exposed to the south. All the bedrooms in the house have direct access to the outdoors. The master bedroom is located at the farthest end from the living areas, to ensure greater seclusion and privacy.
The roof of the house is flat and entirely landscaped. This solution ensures thermal comfort for the building and the landscape integration of the house on the property. With this solution, the house has a discreet presence when viewed from the back of the land, which is entirely higher than the roof of the house.
Sustainability
The House in Monte da Virgem reflects a long-standing commitment to sustainability. The solar exposure of the house, the high quality of the frames and glass of the exterior openings, along with the effective thermal insulation of walls and roof ensure a comfortable indoor environment. Additionally, the careful selection of mechanical climate control equipment, with high energy efficiency, and the attention to the distribution of fan-coil units inside the house, were decisive, both in harmonizing the ambient temperature of the rooms and in ensuring the absence of noise. A similar criterion was followed in the choices for water heating. The high energy efficiency of the implemented solutions allows for optimal thermal comfort and enjoyment of natural light, provided by the large glazed openings.
The land
The house is situated on a wooded plot with an unobstructed horizon. However, the steep slope to the west made the land too exposed to street traffic. On the other hand, there was a shortage of flat and comfortable outdoor areas. The project was tasked with resolving these issues and accommodating the desired house on the land, creating conditions for comfortable enjoyment.
The project
Thus, the protection of privacy within the property is ensured by the extensive west-facing facade. This forms an effective barrier against intrusion on the land. The "U" shaped layout of the house creates a sheltered courtyard, protected from wind, street noise, and with great privacy. This configuration results in two south-facing facades, the best solar exposure and thermal comfort throughout the year.
The lower floor is "attached" to the land, to the east. It houses the entrance areas of the house, the garage, and the service areas. The entrance to the house in Monte da Virgem is divided into two spaces: a vestibule and an adjacent reception room. The vestibule, with double height, is dominated by two elements with strong visual impact. One is the first flight of stairs leading to the upper floor. The other is a sink, symbolic of arriving home. These elements, and their surroundings, are both clad in Estremoz marble. The environment results, visually, in an impactful setting, given the large size of the marble slabs, the expressive force of their natural veining, and the harmony between the various pieces.
Family life takes place on the upper floor. Here, most of the living spaces have direct access to the outdoor courtyard. And from there, to the garden and the woods. The dining room and kitchen are only lit to the west, the former, and to the north and west, the latter. Both have access to the land via the exterior staircase that connects the balcony to the entrance garden of the house. The living room is equipped with large openings. To the east, to the outdoor courtyard, and to the west, to the street. In this way, the living room dominates the outdoor space of the property. This room is associated with a wellness area. This is equipped with a sauna and a hydro-massage tub, embedded in the floor. Here, the walls and floor are clad in meticulously matched Estremoz marble. This space is naturally lit to the south and has direct access to the garden.
The different levels of the living room floor correspond to distinct uses: family gathering, rest, and wellness. They add the necessary privacy and comfort to each of them. Here, the marble cladding of walls and floors accentuates the differentiation of the functions of the different spaces.
The bedrooms are arranged in sequence, along a corridor. This is lit by a skylight, exposed to the south. All the bedrooms in the house have direct access to the outdoors. The master bedroom is located at the farthest end from the living areas, to ensure greater seclusion and privacy.
The roof of the house is flat and entirely landscaped. This solution ensures thermal comfort for the building and the landscape integration of the house on the property. With this solution, the house has a discreet presence when viewed from the back of the land, which is entirely higher than the roof of the house.
Sustainability
The House in Monte da Virgem reflects a long-standing commitment to sustainability. The solar exposure of the house, the high quality of the frames and glass of the exterior openings, along with the effective thermal insulation of walls and roof ensure a comfortable indoor environment. Additionally, the careful selection of mechanical climate control equipment, with high energy efficiency, and the attention to the distribution of fan-coil units inside the house, were decisive, both in harmonizing the ambient temperature of the rooms and in ensuring the absence of noise. A similar criterion was followed in the choices for water heating. The high energy efficiency of the implemented solutions allows for optimal thermal comfort and enjoyment of natural light, provided by the large glazed openings.