H O U S E I N P O R T O
non-place

Unperceivable from the entering point, the labyrinthine house creates itself around its enigmatic surfaces and metaphysical environment. Like a moving animal that persist to keep waiting on (…) creating the notion of nothingness.

Open to an almost arid field left over with a pool, alone, forgotten in the middle of continuous tunnel to nowhere. The atmosphere inside is illuminated by the courtyard’s natural light system installation . By overlooking the City Park, the sense of unlimited space, crossed in lengthways, covered the terrain with points of view.

The house generates itself, below the entrance level, freeing the garden’s roof. Two volumes give a hint, acting as visual as funcional extensions … private patios secret house. Confronting the roof with views underneath, this place is a non-place.

At some point, we reach the tennis court. In closed doors, in stone walls, the green roofs became the old green field. This tennis court is the metaphor inside the house that reveals its parts (…) No public on private sphere, stone bricks that mark the landscape. A game in closed doors. 

Location
Porto, Portugal

Year
2006-2011

Team
Bernardo Lacasta, Duarte Madrugo, Filipa Calado, Filipa Ferreira,
João Torres

Landscaping
PROAP

Interiors
Oitoemponto

Photography
Juan Rodriguez

Text
Francisca Abrantes da Fonseca

casa no porto by valsassina architects