M—AO
106
L SHAPE HOUSE
The client approached us with a very clear intention: to build an L-shaped house, with a tiled roof and a swimming pool. Although we did not immediately recognise the recurring preference among our clients for this particular shape, in this project we were drawn to it as a starting point, as it allowed us to close off two key frontages of the site — the street and the north-facing façade — while opening the house to the south/west.
The typology is organised along the diagonal that folds the “L”, establishing an axis that mediates the transition between the private area (bedrooms) and the social area (living room/kitchen). It is at this hinge point that we placed the main entrance and a cluster of technical spaces. By its nature, this space required a distinct identity, anchored to the diagonal that underpins the entire architectural concept. A structural column was therefore deliberately offset from the main axis, creating a play of geometries in the ceiling.
Taking advantage of the maximum permitted roof slope (35%), the interior spaces are articulated through varying heights, generating distinct atmospheres. The chimney, which also serves as a structural column, is conceived as a hybrid element, contributing to a composition of architectural forms that define the patio. Its dimensions were structurally developed to liberate the connection between the living room and the pool from a repetitive rhythm of columns.
Project info:
Type: Housing
Area: 240 sqm
Location: Guimarães, Portugal
Year: 2020-2024
Team: Eva Martins, Joana Moreira, José Martins, Miguel Pereira
Photography: Hugo Carvalho Araújo | NUDO
The typology is organised along the diagonal that folds the “L”, establishing an axis that mediates the transition between the private area (bedrooms) and the social area (living room/kitchen). It is at this hinge point that we placed the main entrance and a cluster of technical spaces. By its nature, this space required a distinct identity, anchored to the diagonal that underpins the entire architectural concept. A structural column was therefore deliberately offset from the main axis, creating a play of geometries in the ceiling.
Taking advantage of the maximum permitted roof slope (35%), the interior spaces are articulated through varying heights, generating distinct atmospheres. The chimney, which also serves as a structural column, is conceived as a hybrid element, contributing to a composition of architectural forms that define the patio. Its dimensions were structurally developed to liberate the connection between the living room and the pool from a repetitive rhythm of columns.
Project info:
Type: Housing
Area: 240 sqm
Location: Guimarães, Portugal
Year: 2020-2024
Team: Eva Martins, Joana Moreira, José Martins, Miguel Pereira
Photography: Hugo Carvalho Araújo | NUDO