PICOUTOS PARK

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING IN MATOSINHOS

In terms of orientation, given our good fortune to be able to live on the edge of such a beautiful park, we thought that the public part of the house, the living rooms and kitchens, should undoubtedly be positioned facing the distant, natural views offered by the park. When you look to the north you can always see the nature perfectly illuminated by the sun, without backlighting, which enhances the landscape and fills you with optimism. At the same time, the houses receive ample solar radiation through their south façade, which has blinds to control excess radiation. As the orientation of the blocks is northeast, the terraces and living rooms receive direct sunlight in the morning. The terraces are enclosed on three sides to protect them from excessive wind. The double orientation ensures natural cross ventilation, which is essential for cooling the house naturally when necessary. The vertical position of the buildings in relation to the terrain was designed to achieve the most natural integration possible.

The interior of each unit has been designed to optimise the circulation spaces, seeking a versatile use that allows variety and adaptability for the resident and a greater social richness in the occupation of the building. In the two-bedroom typology, which is the most common, the washing machine unit has been removed from the kitchen and placed in the corridor next to the bedrooms. Clothes are stored in the bedrooms, so it makes sense for the washing and ironing units to be close to them. The hallway thus becomes a multi-purpose space that gives versatility to the house.

The projects have been designed to have NEAR ZERO ENERGY BUILDINGS (NZEB), minimising energy consumption to cover heating, ventilation and cooling needs, producing part of their energy from renewable sources.