Carlos Castanheira Architects

Casa Ribeira de Abade

Casa Ribeira de Abade
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG

CASA RIBEIRA DE ABADE

Carlos Castanheira

CATEGORY
Houses

LOCATION
Valbom, Portugal

ARCHITECT IN CHARGE
Carlos Castanheira & Clara Bastai Arqtos Lda.

SPECIALITIES
Paulo Fidalgo, Eng. Civil , HDP Gabinete Projectos. Engenharia Civil, Lda.

YEAR
2005

CONTRACTOR
A Construtora de Loureiro, Lda. (Empreiteiro Geral)

CLIENT
Dr. António Torres e família

DESIGN TEAM
Duarte Rodrigues, Sofia Reis, Demis Lopes, Barbara Guedes, Isabel Ribeiro, Bruno André, Luís Calheiros, João Figueiredo

Text description provided by architect.

A visit to the site caused an immediate, negative impression.

Casa Ribeira de Abade
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG
Casa Ribeira de Abade
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG
Casa Ribeira de Abade
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG
Casa Ribeira de Abade
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG

Such a chaotic place, the result of a lack of planning, casual unauthorized development, or simply bad taste and an absence of culture.

What could have led the Clients to aquire this site? Why?

Casa Ribeira de Abade
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG
Casa Ribeira de Abade
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG

The need to separate the project from its neighbouring context, immediately justified the direction to be taken.

Casa Ribeira de Abade
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG
Casa Ribeira de Abade
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG

The site, is just off the main road which brings one quickly to the heart of the city of Oporto, but its character is in the landscape of the river Douro, and its bridges and the almost possible view of the sea.

Casa Ribeira de Abade
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG
Casa Ribeira de Abade
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG

The Client’s enjoyment of the site was evident, as was their dislike for its immediate context.

So the necessity for abstraction and separation was evident.

Casa Ribeira de Abade
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG
Casa Ribeira de Abade
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG

It was my role to find the form of that abstraction.

The Project for and the construction of the house, its name being derived from its location, is just that. A great emphasis on the landscape, the terrain’s difficult topography and an abstraction from its immediate context, seeking forms and architectural content that would deny the context, even forget it.

Casa Ribeira de Abade
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG
Casa Ribeira de Abade
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG

Planes were necessary to organize the living areas, both inside and out.

They were built; retaining walls, which create enclosure and form the house.

Walls parallel to the slope and perpendicular to it, helping each other and in between those walls, spaces were created, spaces for life, spaces for light which enables life.

Casa Ribeira de Abade
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG
Casa Ribeira de Abade
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG

The programme, which was very hierarchichal, suggested different contents, different kinds of experience. On the ground floor is the social area, subdivided to be enjoyed by the family, relations, friends and visitors.

On the upper floor, there are three bedrooms cantilevered, with a privileged enjoyment of the landscape beyond. In between these, are the two guest rooms.

Volumetrically there is almost only the cantilevered body of the bedrooms.

Casa Ribeira de Abade
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG
Casa Ribeira de Abade
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG

Sitting on a stone clad wall, its overhang shades from the direction of the penetrating setting sun, always wonderful, always different.

External materials are: concrete, granite, slate, zinc and glass. Internally, white walls, American Oak timber and glass.

Casa Ribeira de Abade
© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG

Outside, the upper plane platforms become orchards and the lower external platforms relate directly to the interior, enjoying the landscape.

As elsewhere, fundamental to a good, rational and healthy process, was the quality of the Clients. This is, and was, fundamental. The rest is professionalism and the co-ordination of various other professions.


Casa Ribeira de Abade
Floor plan
Casa Ribeira de Abade
Floor plan


Casa Ribeira de Abade
Elevation
Casa Ribeira de Abade
Section
Casa Ribeira de Abade
Section
Casa Ribeira de Abade
Section


Casa Ribeira de Abade
Sketch
Casa Ribeira de Abade
Sketch
Casa Ribeira de Abade
Sketch
Casa Ribeira de Abade
Sketch


Casa Ribeira de Abade
Model
Casa Ribeira de Abade
3D model

Carlos Castanheira Architects
T +351 223 704910 M +351 917 890709
Carlos Castanheira Architects
R. do Conselheiro Veloso da Cruz 61, 4400-094 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal