2005 - 2008 / PT - Marco de Canaveses
Built
Client: Rui Ferreira
Authorship: Nuno Graça Moura
Collaboration: Luísa Rosas, Vicente Brito, Cátia Bernardo, Rita Machado, Sofia Ferreira da Silva, Carlos Castro, Pedro Gonçalves
Engineering: Envest
Contractor: Constance
Awards / nominations:
2011
Finalist of the 7th "Reiners Stiftung Architekturpreis 2011", Hamburg, Germany
2009
Selected and finalist of the "Premis FAD 2009", Barcelona, Spain
Selected for the "IV Prémio de Arq. Ascensores Enor", Vigo, Spain
Two houses are built on a hillside overlooking the Tâmega river. The plot has a strong slope and consists of several terraces with large granite retaining walls, that are in some cases 5m to 6m high. One of the houses is like a closed “massive block” inside one of the large existing granite retaining walls. Main access is on the roof, which is an extension of one of the existing platforms. The bedrooms are located on the upper floor facing a courtyard. The ground-floor forms a porch. Living rooms and kitchen overlook the landscape to the west. A double-height room links both levels visually. The upper floor is painted ocher and the lower level is the extension of the existing granite walls. The construction drawings were literally drawn on the walls during construction works, as to better adjust it to the local workers.
© Nuno Graça Moura