Located along one of the main streets of Matosinhos, Avenida da República, this residential building occupies an urban void within the existing built line. The main volume is a direct consequence of municipal regulations that strictly define the alignment with its neighboring structures.

The client’s requirement for a diverse mix of apartment sizes, combined with our commitment to designing dual-aspect dwellings, led to the development of an asymmetric façade. This façade clearly reflects the internal organization of the apartments, articulated through horizontal concrete beams supporting the projecting balconies.

The strong verticality of the building — 32 meters high and 10 meters wide — is accentuated by a volumetric composition that becomes progressively slimmer across the upper three levels, enhancing its slender proportions.

Structurally, the scheme is simple and intuitive. Robust reinforced-concrete walls run longitudinally through the building, forming both the dividing elements between apartments and the central circulation core. The main partition wall between different units extends outward, expressed as a concrete beam supporting the thin balcony slabs. On the ground floor, this structural logic is inverted: a cross-shaped beam supports the upper walls, transferring the load to the ground through a massive concrete pillar that resembles a cyclopic rock.

This pillar, distinct from the rest of the structure, assumes a rougher, more dramatic presence, emphasizing the effort of carrying the weight of the entire building above. In contrast, slender metal elements are used for the window frames and balustrades, providing a light counterpoint to the expressive concrete structure.

Balcony privacy is ensured through folded perforated metal screens, whose height decreases gradually toward the upper levels. This subtle variation reflects the increasing distance from street level, where privacy becomes naturally less critical.

Inside, the apartments are organized with clarity and functionality. Service spaces are positioned toward the central core, allowing the living areas to receive maximum natural light. The exposed concrete ceilings and wooden floors establish a dialogue between raw materiality and domestic warmth, balancing the building’s robust architectural expression with domestic warmth.

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STATUS: execution phase

LOCATION: Mathosinhos (PT)

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER : PN10

MEP: PN10