The Ílhavo House, designed by M2.senos_arquitetos, represents a perfect fusion between the urban environment and traditional roots. Situated between agricultural fields, this single storey house fulfills the wishes of the owner family.
The Ílhavo House, designed by M2.senos_arquitetos, stands majestically among the old agricultural fields, representing a perfect marriage between urban life and rural roots. The owners, inheriting the land from their grandparents, chose to build a ground floor residence on it that fully reflected their family's wishes.
Despite its rural origins, Ílhavo House fits gracefully into its urban surroundings. The terrain, characterized by a narrow and elongated shape that seems to dissolve along the road, was a major challenge for the architects. Their goal was to create a home that offers intimacy and privacy while maintaining a harmonious relationship with the outdoors.
The solution was to adhere to the adjacent side of the building to the west and develop the east side with a regular shape, occupying the maximum surface area permitted by current legislation. The formal regularity of the house gradually fades, following the enclosure of the land, gradually moving back towards the road until it reaches an almost terminal annexed volume. This choice gives the structure a peculiar dynamism, accentuated by the decision to opt for a two-story design in the central area.
To mitigate the proximity to the street and neighbours, all interior spaces move away from the main facade. This arrangement makes it possible to create internal "patios", protected courtyards which make the distinction between inside and outside ambiguous, also underlined by the presence of shutters. Through this strategy, distinct ecosystems are created that erase all traces of external life, giving the inhabitants an intimate and protected dimension.
Ílhavo House is also distinguished by its refined aesthetics and meticulous choice of materials. The main entrance welcomes visitors with a large porch that creates a harmonious transition between the interior and exterior spaces. The white walls and large glass surfaces allow natural light to generously permeate the rooms, creating a light and airy atmosphere.
The interiors have been carefully designed to ensure maximum functionality and comfort. Common areas, such as the living room, kitchen and dining room, merge into an open space that promotes socialization and conviviality. On the other hand, the bedrooms and private spaces have been strategically placed to ensure privacy and rest.
project info
Project name: Ilhavo House
Architecture Office: M2.senos_arquitetos
Main Architect: Ricardo Senos and Sofia Senos
Website: www.m2.senos.com
Facebook: m2.senos – architects
Instagram: m2.breasts
Location: Rua das Cancelas – Ílhavo
Year of conclusion: 2021
total area: 549m2
Builder: Licínio Martins Lourenço, Lda
Engineering: Eng.º Amadeu Carvalho
Team: Arq. Paul Palma
Architectural photographer: Ivo Tavares Studio
Website: www.ivotavares.net
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ivotavaresstudio
Instagram: www.instagram.com/ivotavaresstudio
