A family project by the sea that blends memory and contemporaneity: two independent houses come together in a single compact volume, where every detail responds to precise constraints and a deep desire for formal coherence.
To build two independent houses on the family land, the Fonte brothers faced a difficult choice: demolish the old house by the sea. The project, curated by Lousinha Arquitectos, had to deal with strict urban planning constraints, which determined a square building area of 12 meters per side. The challenge was twofold: to reconcile functional needs and achieve a volume that appeared as a single compact house, coherent with the surrounding context.
Volumetry arises from the idea of a compact mass sculpted through geometric subtractions: small parallelepipeds that mark events such as entrances, terraces, and balconies. The square window openings, aligned with the inner edge of the walls, interrupt the regularity with precision. The double-pitched roof rotated by 45° introduces a formal dynamic that enhances the corner of the lot, adapting to the heights of adjacent buildings and engaging with the urban volumetry, an architectural solution that can be found in similar architectural projects.
To ensure the independence of the two dwellings, the entrances have been placed in opposite corners: one on Rua dos Faróis, the other on Avenida da Bela Vista. In both cases, the subtraction of mass creates protected porches and hides the garage. Pedestrian and vehicular paths are shared but separated by a central technical volume that houses common infrastructures, contributing to the clarity of the architectural design.
The project adopts a sober and coherent palette: facades covered with ETIC system and sand-colored paint, entrances emphasized by solid wood, polished concrete floors. Inside, simple finishes and raw materials dominate, such as concrete flooring and rough plaster on walls and ceilings. The spaces are spread over three levels, with cozy yet functional environments, designed to adapt to different uses and a contemporary lifestyle.
