Architecture Style

Aveleda´s House is a villa designed to accommodate the light as a source of inner experience of housing. The basic idea of the project, parts from the concept of being located near by the old Roman city of “Bracara Augustae”, where the ancient Roman houses, the Domus, were built around an internal square. Hence all the subtlety of the house is achieved with a careful distribution. In other hand, it was searchable to provide all 6 senses of life.

“We tried to take the most of the land to create a connection with the interior of the building, leaving a view of the valley and the square that exists between the two bodies housing”, highlights Manuel Ribeiro, architect and author of the project responsible for its implementation.

The main body which houses the social functions of the house is situated at the same elevation of the square, assuming the sloping ground with the Hall higher, comparatively to the social part and creating a view of all from this; the social area involves open spaces, living and dining room without doors to the kitchen, and bathroom service is disguised within.

Down below the architect created a space for a gym and an office, supplied by the natural slope of the terrain.

The private area with 4 bedrooms (1 suite and 3 rooms) and a large bathroom facility support is at the elevation of the entrance hall, raised highly in comparison of the external square, without losing the visual field.

The suite room is also a closet, and a large bathroom, where there is a division between the uses (bath, sanitary and sinks).

On the square that is outside, we can find the pool that reminds us the Roman “compluvium” of a “Domus”, centered on between two areas of housing. Uniting all construction towards the valley and enhanced with the Sun´s circuit along with the glass façade.

The engine room, the locker room and a support kitchen area in a under elevation of the square, as a support for the outdoor activities.

“The plasticity of the object HOUSE (purpose built) will always be overridden by the phenomenological aspect, giving identity and character to the building and so, it’s able now to provide a center of life, functional and familiar at the same time that explores the pleasure of landscapes, spacious zones and materials.

This will not be only a “home”, but always a Domus. All the project intends to explore the human being as well as it senses: touch, sight, smell, hearing, taste and passion. These are aspects that never been neglected. On the contrary, they are always present”, he concludes.