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Casa do Limoeiro

a*l - alexandre loureiro architecture studio

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Jose Campos Photographer
Jose Campos Photographer
Jose Campos Photographer
Jose Campos Photographer

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Comments
Innovation
Functionality
Creativity
Eco-Social Impact
Total
JURY VOTES
Small Apartment
5.91
6.36
5.82
6.98
6.27
Viktorija Valiulyte
Viktorija Valiulyte Senior Designer for EMEA Flagshipstores at Nike
6
6.5
6
8
6.63
Christopher Lye
Christopher Lye Principal at Woods Bagot
6
6
5.5
6.5
6
Elnaz Taghaddos
Elnaz Taghaddos Cofounder at E Plus A Atelier
I admire the simplicity of the desi...
6
5.5
5
7.5
6
Esin Karliova
Esin Karliova Founder and Principal at Studio Karliova
Really appreciate the minimalist, c...
5.5
7.5
7
7
6.75
Micha Klein
Micha Klein Executive Director at Liganova
5.5
6.5
5
7
6
Ankur Choksi
Ankur Choksi Cofounder and Principal at Studio Lotus
5
6
6
6
5.75
Matteo Ferrari
Matteo Ferrari Founder at Matteo Ferrari Studio
A good example of design where the...
7
7
7
6
6.75
Javier Jimenez Iniesta
Javier Jimenez Iniesta Director at Studio Animal
6
7
7
8
7
Jenn Celesia
Jenn Celesia Founder at Jenn Celesia Consulting
6
6.5
6
7
6.38
Søren Pihlmann
Søren Pihlmann Founder at pihlmann architects
6.5
5
5
7.5
6
Rahul Mistri
Rahul Mistri Founder and Principal Designer at Open Atelier Mumbai
5
7.04
5
6.84
5.97
Heather Dubbeldam
Heather Dubbeldam Principal at Dubbeldam Architecture + Design
7
8
5.5
6.5
6.75
Cathy Wang
Cathy Wang Founder and Principal at Montaigne Design
5.4
5.48
5.73
5.81
5.61
Zhifeng Wang
Zhifeng Wang Founder and Creative Director at A3 VISION
5
6
5
8
6
Christina Prodromou
Christina Prodromou Director at COX Architecture
6
7
6.5
7.5
6.75
Kot Ge
Kot Ge Founder at LSD Interior Design
6
6
6
7
6.25
Ke Xie
Ke Xie Founder at Signyan Design
7.5
6.5
6.5
7
6.88
Moein Jalali
Moein Jalali Founder at Moein Jalali and Partners
There is a difference between minim...
5
5
5
6.5
5.38
Client
Sonia Costa
Floor area
52 ㎡
Completion
2023
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Sanitary
Lighting
Finishes
Furniture
Finishes
Sanitary

Casa do Limoeiro is a summer house located in a small village on the Costa Vicentina.

The rehabilitation of this century-old abandoned house brought to light the dichotomous discussion between tradition and contemporaneity. The challenge was clearly how to build with simple, indigenous materials that are traditionally present in the local culture, adapting them to the new challenges of contemporary living.

The small narrow house measuring only 55sqm was organized in a simple way, but very compartmentalized. The plan presented a succession of small spaces of about 2mX3m arranged consecutively and in continuity without a great hierarchy between them. Given the limited space available, the project created an "open space" connecting the entrance to the outdoor patio where the social areas (kitchen and living room) are installed. Private areas, such as bedrooms and bathrooms, occupy the sides and take the form of alcoves.

Simple, basic and dry details, in line with local tradition, provide the serenity and visual peace of the whitewashed walls.

Architecture is reduced to its basics. Minimum. Minimalist. This is the essence of this project.

The house has traditional rammed earth walls, wooden cage partitions and a reed ceiling with the traditional "rat heel”.
The reuse of the existing hydraulic mosaic and the new handmade tiles give a human touch to the water areas, contrasting with the industrial floor of smoothed concrete.

All furniture is made of natural wood, providing a natural harmony to the spaces and giving a sense of balance to the environment.

Overall, this little house builds our sense of belonging with its indulgent delicacy.

The project is a pure example of architecture 101.
Simple isn’t easy!