Santos Pousada Apartment

photos by Ivo Tavares Studio

Santos Pousada Apartment is located on the top floor of a building designed by Portuguese mid-century architects Arménio Losa and Cassiano Barbosa. Built in 1956 as a rental unit building the last floor was originally planed as an exterior semi public space. During the original construction this space was adapted to two symmetrical apartments, repeating the scheme of the remaining floors. This programmatic change is responsible for some of the most singular formal elements of the apartment, the concrete structural elements and the size of the windows that represent 55% of the facade surface area.

The aim of the project is to completely modernize the original three-bedroom apartment with 80sqm gross area into a more confortable, energy efficient two-bedroom apartment for a young couple with a kid, dog, office, and a library without compromising the mid-century original style.

PHOTOS BY Ivo Tavares Studio

The project strategy was to define a central open space on the apartment where the family spends most of the time, increasing its area by demolishing some interior walls. Here we have the living space, dining space, library and office. The several spaces are organized with three types of carpentry elements, loose elements, wall aligned elements and diving elements that in some cases totally replace the walls between different rooms. The remaining spaces are secondary and reduced to the minimum size with walls full of cabinets to place appliances, infrastructures and storage.

The chosen materials are mostly defined by the original project. The original wood pavements and wood doors are restored and the existing terrazzo floors are replaced by new ones that go up the stucco walls. The natural wood elements use the mahogany from the original project and the light wood painted fillings are replaced by lacquered and coloured mdf. The dark tone of the carpentry balances the natural luminosity provided by the big windows. The atmosphere of the big textured wood panels brings to an end the 65-year-old rental unit vibe and inserts on the space the intended permanent home character.

PHOTOS BY Ivo Tavares Studio

Project information

Architect:Hinterland Atelier
Location:Portugal,
Project Year:2021
Photographer:Ivo Tavares Studio
Categories:Apartment

Join Complesco

Have a look through our requirements and terms and conditions!

Submit a project

philosophy

A complex research which aims to highlight the quality of architecture over any other aspect. We believe that architecture plays a meaningful role in society and that architects should be able to share the beauty they manage to create through their works, in a well mannered and considerate way: free of distractive advertisements and unpleasant commercials. Complesco is therefore a focused platform that wishes to take architecture to the highest level of consideration, believing that an appropriate selection will win over quantitative and generic architecture that is taking over the places we inhabit. Complesco is a tool to stop cheap apathy and indifference, towards a possible future of surrounding beauty.

Do not hesitate to contact us at info@complesco.com. We make it our priority to reply hastily!

Santos Pousada Apartment

submit a project?

Join Complesco

philosophy