Project
- Preliminary Studies for a service building
update - Offices + 3 houses
Location
- Castro Verde - Alentejo -Portugal
Type of Project
- Firms nest (1º floor) and Coordinator Center of associations (Ground floor)
update - Office and housing develop in 2 stores.
Design Parameters
- According to client wishes and to marketing survey. it was developed the main program wich includes the integration of the Coordination Centre at ground floor and a small independent shop that can be used by an 3rd party- (the camping entrance will be next to it)
The 1st floor will integrate an firm nest, a place to settle differents firms or freelancers- lawyers, solicitors, engineers, architects, accounters, etc...
Design Approach
- We have decided that the design must be simple, strong and that make a change on the nearby building approach, never the less we have a good contemporary building in front- the municipal pool center- the plot area will be fill wit common residential layout, 2 storage. The building will be done on a previliagiated place, next to the main camping entrance, near the pool center, and in front of a green treated area.
A new meeting point/ melting point is to be achieved. The actual area is not urbanized yet, it still an urban edge to be treated.

Simple forms, cubics, the white of the alentejo limestone paint, the yellow ocre earth pigments of the and the grey marble of nearby will transpond the traditional values to the building.
A big yelow block attached to a white cube, perfurated by small widows tha in a way brake apart the massive volume, controling the hot and sun in South area. The Entrance/ staircase clipped by an enbracing white laminated form, pointing to the subject the main acess and breaking apart the 30m meters wide of the front elevation.
The attached/dettached fire stairs volume, done in metal and faced with metalic perforated plates, materializes the parking pateo area and reinforce the shape of the building by opposition, and in a way preforms the urban continuity at the South facade.

1

2

3

The proposal plans layout - plot area -i'll post soon photos of the area so you can see all the "picture"

ground floor

1st floor

Pedro


Thank you for sharing your work with us.

Some comments

The idea of making the scale ambiguous with the perforated wall, that doesn't allow us to read the two floors immediately seems very effective and interesting to me. The possibility of modifying the interior to adapt to the needs of different firms certainly is another good reason not to set any particular fenestration or window solution to all surfaces

Some questions

The use of laminar elements to envelope the vertical circulations is appealing. Could you extend one or the other up to the roof, either for volumetric and practical reasons?

I feel the surfaces are going to be rich, as they are to be sheathed in noble materials, Could joints break up the volume, creating a pattern of some sort?

Your use of separate windows in the darker volume with individual overhangs seems somewhat heavy and less developed than the other window solutions proposed. Could these overhangs extend themselves along the facade? Could continuous strip windows replace these individual windows? In any case could the windows be made up of a pattern of the type of perforations proposed for the large light colored volume? I feel that something of this sort would have us perceive the building differently.

A well thought out, solid, small building in a privileged location. Congratulations.

It's always a pleasure to see your work, and a privilege to comment on it.

Saludos

Juan

I have a question about the visual organization of the building massing.

There is a yellow block for offices, and a white block for entry stairs, and red block in back for fire stairs. Very clear. I don't understand the seperately articulated white cube (the one with the little windows).
Does it have a seperate use and/or function?

I guess I don't share the opinion that the "white box" portion of the design with it's out of scale fenestration is a good solution. I know in your brief you spoke of controlling solar heat gain so why would you have large glazed openings in the yellow volume? The "white box" just feels a little tacked on to me and not truly interegrated into the design. I feel that if that's truly what you want then there should be some transition piece between the 2 volumes. Not unlike your seperation between the red stair and the "white box".

I'm gathering yours and others comments, soon I'll reply to you all...
I'm with my mind on others projects for now...


Thanks,... Juan, Peter and Brian

Nice design, clear model and an interesting program.

I think Juan is 'right-on' with his comments:

The vertical windows with the continuous sunscreens is a little weird. I think that you could just do a couple quick study models: Decide if the sunscreens are interupted to relate to the vertical windows or are the windows ribbons to relate to the sunscreens. Maybe ribbon windows can be applied to both sides of the yellow volume to further distinguish it from the other volumes. I don't have an answer, just suggestions and a concurrance with Juan.

The joints in the materials will have an effect on the volumes themselves and how they relate to each other, too. The next step could be investigating how material size and application could enhance your design.

My last thought was about the bathrooms. Is it possible, programatically, to move the second floor restrooms over the first. Very mundane, but can save some money there to be spent elsewhere.

Keep us posted. I really like where the building is, and look forward to seeing progress. Thanks for showing.

I agree with most of the comments, and I think that brianT's thoughts are spot on in this design.

Hello, again, new update....
This project has been stopped for a wile due to programatic indifinition from the original client... and now we have another...

Basically the firm nest will continue... ( the yellow stuff at the left)
The rest of the program changed to a 3 houses, 3 bedrooms, targeting young couples and to rent (social rents)

Bellow are 4 possible layouts for the front, I would love to have some critics on those.

PS. (for now the firm nest module is to be done with the same original language)

mm, would go for a combination of A and B, that's A with a thinner roof slab..
Can you diferentiate the white and other material surfaces by pushing it back a little more?

i'd go with a more developed idea along the lines of B or C...I'm a fan of the breakdown of the facade w/ emphasis at each entry rather than conjoining them all together with a roof element...

Thanks guys, I'm developing the back, I´ll trie to redo the front, so I' m not fully convince...

I agree with ryarch maybe all the services should be grouped in both storeys. Aligning them with the main staircase would be a good choice, and it would also give the floorplan flexibility for future changes.

CESAR, the thing now is, make 4 slices itno the building volume, 3 parts are for housing and one the administrative/ firms nest.
Each of one will have 2 floors.

A preview of the 3 houses, backyards....

Still developing the fronts and redoing and integrating the original mass volume.

For now, I found this solution the best choice...

The front, from another angle....

Already have a global massing preview...

Pedro

Your choice as of which facade option to pursue is great. The overhang is asymmetric and yet covers both areas it is called upon to protect. I'll still wiggle in a question: Could it be finished in a different color?

Your approach to the larger mass is also appropriate, if we consider the context you are building in with large bright white masses, broken up by small windows and French balconies.

I'm glad to hear ( and see) your project is still alive and kicking.

"Exito!" which is to say and wish you "Success!"

Saludos

Juan

Agree with Juan, why not treat the overhang in a different material/colour? Something lighter maybe, perhaps some design element that stands out from the rest...

Thanks for the sugestions... yes, the coloured overhang... that should work...
This way I can individualize each house...

see below.

(Thanks for share, and discuss this project) :not worth

Hey Pedro, would you mind posting a reduced skp of the project (just the façade maybe...?) so that people can have fun with it? :D Sometimes a good sketch speaks better than a thousand words...

Hey Pedro, would you mind posting a reduced skp of the project (just the façade maybe...?) so that people can have fun with it? :D Sometimes a good sketch speaks better than a thousand words...

good idea Michel, here it is...

Hey thx Pedro!
I would invert the first row house in order to dissociate it from the entrance of the office building and apply another shift to break the repetition. Finally, to unify the 3 row houses, I would probably link the overhanging roof / corniche. Just a thought... :wondering

Michel, thanks, I´m having a discussion with my partner about your proposal, and for shure we are for that option, grabbing all houses with the overhang and make stop the simple array....

We decide to stick with the white overhang... around here people don´t like to stand up...

:cheers:

the back office solution, for now...

Well, this the end of my working day...
This is the impass for now... solution A or B !!!

Hope you can clarify my ideas during my night... :D
until tomorrow... hope to find valuable critics.

next step will be update the plans.... and then return to elevations... ;)

:cheers:

Hum... any sugestions...?

How about something like this. The material change just doesn't do it for me and the other one looks too simmilar.

A step further from caca's idea.:wondering

...or accordingly to the previous idea...

...or maybe this? :wondering

yes probably go for Cesar Idea, Michel... Your second option is not suitable for my climate...
But without the cube windows displacement...

Takesh, the slopping wall is very interesting and sculptural, but for shure will bring several patologies to the building...

Thanks everyone, again.. :cheers:

A quick idea based on Cacapis and Takesh's, but leaving a clear block volume and a separated connector that comes from one building to another.

Pedro


I for one, prefer Alternate "B", although perhaps you could take Jayo's idea ( receding the darker strip to separate the volumes further) and extend the white overhang across the entrance.

Thanks for sharing your ideas with us, for allowing us to see ourselves as your buddies at a table, talking shop over a cool drink.

It's a good feeling.

Saludos

Juan

Ok.. grabing everyones ideas, i finnaly come out with this solution and rest my case (at least for now!!!)

merci/ gracias/ thanks, to all of you :not worth

I like it now. I have to say that at first I didn't like the lilac at all, but now it's kinda growing on me.

I like it now. I have to say that at first I didn't like the lilac at all, but now it's kinda growing on me.

It's fine but I can't help but think, "I wish he would reverse those faces".

It's fine but I can't help but think, "I wish he would reverse those faces".
:D :D.... heheh.. it´s painted.... medium state blue...
What about my new avatar...

:D :D.... heheh.. it´s painted.... medium state blue...
What about my new avatar...
Oh, now everyone's going to retouch their avatar for the beauty contest Feigetl proposed?
Imasayer got all dressed for the ocasion, I'm sure cesar will remove his stitches...
BTW What is that on your face?

Oh, now everyone's going to retouch their avatar for the beauty contest Feigetl proposed?
Imasayer got all dressed for the ocasion, I'm sure cesar will remove his stitches...
BTW What is that on your face?
HEHEH...My firm LOGO... don´t you now I´m stuck with it.....!!!

By the way... Primo, where is that avatar GOOGLE EARTH T-shirt I offer you!!!! I think is suitable for the beauty contest... and black dress is always a black dress...

What about my new avatar...

Need more uni-brow! :)

Here you go...

Plan- level 0

Plan- level 1

Now the promotor want to repale a Type3 houso for a Type1 plus a store...
so this the outcome... for now

But still not shure of the isolated overhanging console on top ot the comercial store... maybe connected to the rest?

what you guys have to say?!

Another solution... I believe this integrates better...

The new store, it´s one level, but the buyer can make a mezzanine, almos dubling the floor area (it´s about 16m2- very small).
The T1 it´s chopped from the T3, losing the 2 front bedrooms and the service bathroom of the ground floor.
don´t have any plans yet.

.. that "Artesanato" thing realy hurts, ouch!:D

I know its the reality of things, but any chance to integrate it to the overall design? I do like the rest, but perhaps you can design a beter canopy or signage...?

.. that "Artesanato" thing realy hurts, ouch!:D

I know its the reality of things, but any chance to integrate it to the overall design? I do like the rest, but perhaps you can design a beter canopy or signage...?

hahah... what do you sugest? instead of this (must make a shade and have a lettering). This ARTESANATO= regional artisan/craftsman shop is probably the better business to put in here, so this dead end road will be the camping entrance ;)

Overall I'd like to say I enjoyed seeing this building evolve. My question is, why does the type1-house have to have such a small window? Or why do you have this sloped slab?

Just some questions... :)

Jakob

in this simple idea (it is just a small photshop sketch) the connection between the small shop and the houses is much more pronounced, i otherwise think the break between the type1-house and the shop is too harsh.

Jakob

and because of the stair, which i guess is located behind the "mysterious" white wall, it would also be a clever idea to use the void over it for the balcony (if the head clearence allows to do so...

i'm just thinking this is a great object for trying some configurations...

Greeting, once again

Jakob

and because of the stair, which i guess is located behind the "mysterious" white wall, it would also be a clever idea to use the void over it for the balcony (if the head clearence allows to do so...

i'm just thinking this is a great object for trying some configurations...

Greeting, once again

Jakob

Jakob, thanks for your comments.

yes, the stairs are after the withe wall. The point of changing the balcony/ window layout for that small window is to, reduce costs, impossibility of acess the balcony from inside the house, less surface to clean.. and so on... :D

Probably loosing that stone between window/ entrace for the shop is not a bad idea, don´t like however, the vertical stone stripe you sugest...

Well, I have to agree with you and the vertical column, it misses something...

Let me explain why I used this cheap trick ;):

I just thought the difference between the houses and the small shop is too big to ignore it (in my opinion it is an irritating break in the overall impression) and too small to be accepted as an "intended" difference. Some (rude) people I know would say "what happend here? why is there this unused white area?..." and some things I won't repeat here. But in one point they are maybe right.

Why don't you use the white space somehow in your design? I guess if you could share a simplified modell with ppb2 and point out you want to improve the store-type1-house interaction (if that is something you want...), some genious brains around here would have better ideas than me...

I have to say at first I was a bit doubtfull about the aproach, but now i'm really into the simplicity of this design!

Jakob

maybe you could use the wood the connect the shop more to the houses, or change the height to differnciate

I like the way you turned this project around, and always changing and experimenting...
Thanks for sharing your way to work.. :D

Good luck

After a looonnng... period. Here is my final proposal, finnaly they gave me the top. survey, and I finnaly mattched with the "final" roads profiles...

looking good! that set of stairs really helps separate the houses and the shop from the office block.

The construction has began... here are some shots of the fundations works...
regards

wow nice project..really good how it evolve at the end..:)

Construction UPDATE, from 2008.03.25

Pedro,

Congratulations and many thanks for the construction report, please keep updating us! :cheers:

Today's pictures....

Just a kick visit to construction site.

Already done 1st floor of the administrative area...

Today's pictures....

Just a kick visit to construction site.

Already done 1st floor of the administrative area...
Pedro-
thanks for the photos. (Design is good, construction is better:))

I was wondering about the large round rocks (we call them "river rock" because they are taken form river beds and have been tumbled into the round for eons). Are they some sort of draingage system under the slabs or just fill?

Thanks

One more update... not much to see yet, as technical instalations are being done...

slowly... another update.

Hey Pedro congrats! How are exterior wall made? Just one "tijolo" (brick) wall?

No, it´'s a double wall sistem:
Inside
Acrilic paint
Gipsum plaster (20mm)
Perfurated light weight ceramic brick (110mm)
cavity with XPS 4cm
Perfurated light weight ceramic brick (110mm)
Cement base plaster (20mm)
silicon base paint
Outside

If it was now.... I would recomend a simple wall sistem (Termic lightweight block with 25cm + ETICS

Update 20081023

Exterior... now without scafolding...

Pedro, I hope you are pleased. I sure like what I see. :)

Anxious to see what the lighting is like on the inside of all those small windows.....is that an open area?

Nice work, Pedro.
If it was now.... I would recomend a simple wall sistem (Termic lightweight block with 25cm + ETICS
since you mentioned this, I have used this system in two projects and I think you don't need to use a thermal insulation block as ETICS is sufficient if applied over a common brick wall. On the other hand, in theory it doesn't perform very well acoustically. Do you know how this can be solved?

Update 20081023

Exterior... now without scafolding...

Congratulations looks great - that is some crisp rendering. Like the tiny capping as well.

The tiny cap... is the protective top element in the edge of the roof. Is made from grey Marble ( "trigaches marble" - same as the wall)

vOId, the use of thermic or other lightweigt block is recommended, because this type of masonary doesn´t need the traditional cement render before the ETICs.
Another advantage is the 25cm wide... witch is compatible with the usual reinforced concrete structures (sections of 25cm)

If you want to use traditional lightweight ceramic blocks... to fullfil acoustic requirements to the outside perimeter... you can use simple 22cm blocks + ETICS.

Bellow is a picture from the interior - 1st floor

fantastic surprise for the interior space where the small square windows reside!

eiiii that looks good. parabens !!

Today.. just passing by... a shot from the back...

Update... 20.11.2008
some pictures of the habitational part...

Update... 20.11.2008 - part 2
some pictures of the services part...
entrance reception area ( blue HPL reception desk)
wood finnish HPL panel installation...

is the color changing on the facade or..(the blue color on the facade, was it so in the project..?
looking great really, congratulation!..
regards

Today went to construction.. during lunch time.