Pedra Líquida, Lda.

House for a Pianist

House for a Pianist
© José Campos

House for a Pianist

Pedra Líquida

ARCHITECTS
Pedra Líquida

CLIENT
Privado

PHOTOGRAPHS
José Campos

MANUFACTURERS
Duravit, Carpilux, Jnf

ARCHITECTS IN CHARGE
Guiomar Rosa

DESIGN TEAM
Hugo Natário, Jorge Gomes

THERMIC ENGINEER
Filipe Trindade

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
João Lima

HYDRAULICS ENGINEER
Luisa Miguel

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Filipe Trindade

ELECTRICAL AND ITED
Filipe Trindade

ACOUSTICS ENGINEER
Rui Ribeiro

LOCATION
Porto, Portugal

AREA
169 M²

YEAR
2019

CATEGORY
Houses

Text description provided by the architects

This house was built for a pianist who wanted to have her grand piano and a harpsichord on the ground floor, in contact with the rear patio and garden.

House for a Pianist
© José Campos
House for a Pianist
© José Campos
House for a Pianist
© José Campos

Thus, and on this floor, a central staircase, in exposed concrete, divides the entrance of people and cars of this Music Room, well-lit by a long-glazed window.

On the first floor, the central staircase becomes a lighter and more transparent metallic structure, articulating the kitchen (facing the street) with the living room (facing the rear patio).

On the top floor, the same staircase culminates on a landing, connecting the front room to the rear room, both served by their own restroom.

House for a Pianist
© José Campos
House for a Pianist
© José Campos
House for a Pianist
© José Campos

To this typological simplicity corresponds an architectural design simplicity: exposed concrete ceilings; plastered walls; floors, window frames, and kitchen furniture in wood; and the punctual use of marble in restrooms.

The most sophisticated details are applied to the key elements of the project: the central metal staircase and the front and rear facades.

The staircase is formed by two flights joined by a semicircular landing, with its steps lined with wood.

House for a Pianist
© José Campos
House for a Pianist
© José Campos
House for a Pianist
© José Campos

It is complemented by a linear iron handrail, designed as a perimeter semicircle, but also as a central triangle.

The façades are made of exposed concrete with a delicate draped shape over its raw texture, generated by a wooden formwork mold.

Seen from the street, this house lives among the eclecticism of the neighbouring buildings, contrasting with their shapes and colours, not for its exuberance, but for its narrowness, verticality, and simplicity.

House for a Pianist
© José Campos
House for a Pianist
© José Campos
House for a Pianist
© José Campos

This project seeks to dialogue with a long architectural tradition in Porto and other European cities of medieval and bourgeois origin.

To this end, it reinvents the traditional lot in these cities – narrow in width and long in length – proving that it can be adapted to new ways of living.

This house is simultaneously simple, in its typology, and graceful in the design of its structural elements.

House for a Pianist
© José Campos
House for a Pianist
© José Campos

This design philosophy can set an example for future interventions, which have to deal with the same type of lot, and do not wish to disguise their contemporaneity, nor be ashamed of their frugality.


House for a Pianist
© José Campos
House for a Pianist
© José Campos
House for a Pianist
© José Campos
House for a Pianist
© José Campos
House for a Pianist
© José Campos
House for a Pianist
© José Campos
House for a Pianist
© José Campos
House for a Pianist
© José Campos


House for a Pianist
Rear facade
House for a Pianist
Main Facade


House for a Pianist
Section 02
House for a Pianist
Section 01


House for a Pianist
Site Plan
House for a Pianist
Roof Plan
House for a Pianist
2nd Floor Plan
House for a Pianist
1st Floor Plan
House for a Pianist
Ground Floor Plan
House for a Pianist
Axonometric

Pedra Líquida, Lda.
T +351 222 011177
Pedra Líquida, Lda.
Rua Álvares Cabral, 22, 4050-040 Porto, Portugal