A concrete staircase and curved lightwell draw gentle and views into Casa Vertical, a tall, slender dwelling in Porto, Portugal, which has been designed by native observe Tsou Arquitectos.
In response to the house’s skinny triangular web site, Tsou Arquitectos selected to attach the areas of the dwelling vertically, giving the undertaking its identify.
Getting into alongside a storage, a hallway opens right into a central staircase that organizes the house, which was solid in uncovered concrete and lined with plywood panel balustrades.
As a way to facilitate visible connections throughout the staircase, the areas on both aspect of the four-storey dwelling sit at half-floor intervals, creating glimpses between areas whereas additionally permitting gentle to unfold.
“The undertaking intends to accommodate the useful programme on a slender plot within the downtown space of town,” defined the observe.
“Its organisation develops round a central staircase with the rooms distributed in half flooring. The staircase unifies the intervention, the place the guardrail unfolds like an origami piece,” it continued.
The house’s floor ground steps all the way down to a barely sunken studio house, which overlooks a small backyard on the rear of the house and is illuminated by a curving lightwell that cuts by way of to the first-floor front room above.
Above, the slender jap finish of the house additionally accommodates a kitchen, bed room and laundry room, with every stage overlooking the again of the location by way of a big window.
On the other aspect of the staircase, the western aspect of the house is occupied by the ground-floor storage.
The primary ground holds a eating room with a balcony, whereas bedrooms and loos are situated on the second and third flooring.
On the high of Casa Vertical, a rooftop terrace overlooks town under, completed with easy paving and and outside seating space.
Externally, the proportions of the house’s facade mirror these of its neighbours, however the constructing is completed in minimal white plaster and topped by a gently curving part.
“The home facade refers back to the typical Porto city home composition, with its vertical home windows, tripartition of the facade and the cornice high,” defined the observe.
“The monolithic character is strengthened by the uniform end and the stereotomy of the facade’s strains,” it continued.
This minimalist character is carried by way of to the interiors, that are outlined by uncovered concrete, white partitions and timber carpentry to create a lightweight, pure palette.
“Uncooked supplies comparable to cement on all flooring and comfortable wooden for doorways, cupboards and guardrails reinforce the unity of the residential undertaking, [with] marble stone utilized in kitchen counter tops and sanitary installations,” stated the observe.
Different residential initiatives not too long ago accomplished in Porto embody a tiny “palazzo” backyard room by native studio Fala Atelier and a house by structure practices WeStudio and Made incorporating mezzanines and light-filled residing areas.
The images is by Ivo Tavares Studio.
