Casa Coqueira

Ivo Tavares Studio

• Architects

The site is organised into two distinct levels. The upper level comprises the majority of the site and is accessed via theupper road. The lower level, on the other hand, is the result of an excavation, connected to the lower road, and is a flatplatform contained between large granite retaining walls.

The house presents itself as a monolithic, transparent volume, developed on a single floor, which rises above the groundand asserts itself within the landscape. Resting on vertical concrete plans that rise from the lower platform to the upper level(5m high), the house is elevated and makes use of the elevation to distance itself from existing buildings and open up anunobstructed view over the valleys.

photo_credit Ivo Tavares Studio — Ivo Tavares Studio

This solution simultaneously allows for a more direct relationship with the property situated at the higher level, as well as aseparation from the surrounding buildings. The layout results from a balance between several factors: enhancing the view,maintaining a distance from the surrounding buildings, and careful integration with the terrain.

At the lower level, between the existing granite walls and the access to the main road, the plans define spaces andpathways, organising green areas, service areas and the entrance to the house itself.

This is an outdoor space resulting from the layout and the site.

The geometry is evident in the house’s floor plan, inscribed within a basic and precise shape: the square. The circulationspace, which also stems from this geometric matrix, is characterised by a spatial ambiguity. In each corner of thisentrance/distribution hall there is a door leading to a new space, yet concealed by a continuous wood cladding. Here, thesquare skylight plays a central role, enhancing the atmosphere with the influx of natural light and alleviating the ambiguoussensation created by the ‘absence’ of an exit.

The layout of the dwelling is the result of an interplay of aligned planes stemming from this geometric square base (theentrance hall). The two horizontal planes —the floor and the roof— constitute the exception to this logic, completing thecomposition and enhancing the spatial experience. Along its perimeter, there are intermediate zones of an undefined naturethat connect directly with the interior spaces, forming a continuous balcony around the entire perimeter.

From a construction perspective, the key materials are concrete, as a structural element; glass, for its immateriality; andwood, which introduces a more human and welcoming dimension. The warm tone of the wood establishes a balancedcontrast with the minimalist and austere character of the concrete.

Overall, the interplay of planes, minimalism and spatial functionality coherently convey the principle of ‘less is more’,associated with the thinking of Mies van der Rohe.