House On The City Walls

House On The City Walls
© JCS photography
House On The City Walls
© JCS photography

House on the City Walls 

PAr Plataforma de ARquitectura + Rita Alves M arch

ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN
Par Plataforma de Arquitectura + Rita Alves March

ENGINEERING
Eng Abílio Neves

CARPENTEER
Wewood

MANUFACTURERS
Louis Poulsen

PHOTOGRAPHS
JCS photography

AREA
373 m²

YEAR
2023

LOCATION
Cascais, Portugal

CATEGORY
Houses

House On The City Walls
© JCS photography
House On The City Walls
© JCS photography

Description provided by architects.

House On The City Walls
© JCS photography
House On The City Walls
© JCS photography

In the ancient center of a village by the sea, a centenary house was built leaning against the medieval defensive wall.

This building grew by adding and suppressing spaces to the depth of the old wall, which was the starting point of the project.

House On The City Walls
© JCS photography
House On The City Walls
© JCS photography

The intervention did not intend to sum area to the existing, but to invent new spaces inside the building, while convoking its own medieval spirit.

All rooms received a new role. A kitchen inhabited a generous room, with cabinets that add depth to the wall and counters that recess, in a succession of arches and niches.

House On The City Walls
© JCS photography
House On The City Walls
© JCS photography

From the reunion of three rooms, a double-height library was born, linking two floors in its volume through a playful brass stair.

New space connections were created to bring fluidity and natural light to the communal rooms, while the private rooms improved the feeling of intimacy.

House On The City Walls
© JCS photography
House On The City Walls
© JCS photography

Fireplaces and candle lights warm all of the rooms, in a sustainable and comfortable way.

The material solutions reinforced the medieval spirit of the project: counters, benchs, showers and basins were shaped in massive limestone elements;

House On The City Walls
© JCS photography
House On The City Walls
© JCS photography

exposed solid wood boards were used in the ceilings, doors and shutters; all hardware and hanging rods are in natural brass; stuccos and paints are lime based; and the windows present slim iron frames.

The furniture was designed or selected specifically to strengthen the project, especially the heavy elements of solid wood.

House On The City Walls
© JCS photography
House On The City Walls
© JCS photography

In result, the project combines the excellence of the ancestral natural materials and constructive systems, while achieving a lightful, inviting and amusing house.


House On The City Walls
© JCS photography
House On The City Walls
© JCS photography
House On The City Walls
© JCS photography
House On The City Walls
© JCS photography
House On The City Walls
© JCS photography
House On The City Walls
© JCS photography
House On The City Walls
© JCS photography
House On The City Walls
© JCS photography


House On The City Walls
Plan - Ground floor
House On The City Walls
Plan - First floor
House On The City Walls
Plan - Second floor
House On The City Walls
Axo