Project & text: Sofia Parente & André Delgado
Photo: José Campos
Formerly used as a barn, Nogueiras house has a built area of only 50 m2 and occupies an existing stone construction in Viana do Castelo, Portugal. At the the ground floor, there is a double height living area and entrance, and at the first floor a bedroom. The central wood box is the bounding piece of the different areas, incorporating furniture elements and the bathroom.
Nogueiras house resulted from the conversion of an old stone barn, tied to a courtyard and sea views. To the west, the facade and the enclosing wall marks the limit of the lot to the street, to the east the main entrance is hidden under a shady canopy of grape vines.
The project has started with the perimeter pre-existing walls, to which were added the first floor and the multifunctional box detached from the internal walls and in relation with all the areas.
The program is developed in two floors, with the more public areas located in the ground level, with double height in the living area and entrance, and the more private ones in the first floor.
The central wood box is the bounding piece of the different areas, incorporating several usages and furniture elements such as: pantry and cupboard in the cooking and dining area, shelf in the living area, bathroom inside it, support to the stair, mezzanine on the top and dresser in the bedroom.
Due to the small size of the house, the secondary areas were condensed, making the main areas more open and in relation with each other, giving to the internal space a more versatile use and a clearer circulation and occupation.
Through an articulated blade system, it is possible to open or close the sleeping area and also to play with the permeability created with the different blade positions.
The finishes are birch plywood, lacquered or painted in white, and the ground floor is in polished concrete. The chosen materials emphasize the luminosity and the neutral ambience of the open areas designed in the project.
Credits & info
Location: Viana do Castelo, Portugalia / Portugal
Architects: Sofia Parente & André Delgado
Area: 50 m2
