Lançada internacionalmente no dia 3 de Julho, esta monografia da editora americana HarperCollins apresenta em destaque o Apartamento em Caminha. Estará disponível em breve em todas as grandes livrarias.
BUILT IN THE 1980S, THIS APARTMENT WAS IN DIRE NEED OF REFURBISHMENT. BOTH ITS UTILITIES AND ORGANIZATION WERE DATED. THE MAIN DESIGN GOAL WAS TO MAKE THE MOST OF ITS SPATIAL POTENTIAL, WHILE UPGRADING ITS CONTEMPORARY LIVING STANDARDS.
“This small apartment by the sea was uninviting due to an unfortunate choice of dark materials and colors, thirty years of intense use, and a cramped compartmentalization. The client required an overall upgrade, including finishes, textures, and a completely new kitchen, while maintaining the original organization of the apartment. Also, costs had to be kept down.
“Such a clear brief set the tone for a strong concept. We focused our design efforts on enhancing the spatial perception of the apartment and providing good lighting. We opted for a minimalist approach, using white as the predominant color. But the central piece of this project is a blue volume that simultaneously resolves the need for room enclosures and for kitchen cabinetry. This design gesture brings a colorful and unpretentious touch to the whole apartment.
“While the design is clearly minimalist, there is a willingness to display textured surfaces and detailing aimed at animating the spaces, making a clear reference to the origins of the building, and demarcating different areas. This was achieved by maintaining the ceiling moldings and introducing a patterned tile flooring in the kitchen.
“All in all, the small apartment provides a relaxing experience and is now fit for thirty more years of simple, joyful use.”
Blue was the color chosen to finish up the surfaces of the cube; the color of the sea. The apartment is close to it. Inspired or not by the sea, the bright blue volume makes a design statement, while satisfying the owner’s desire to maintain the original organization of the apartment unchanged.
Part of the wall between the living area and the bedroom is a sliding panel. When closed, it allows for a clear separation between the two areas, satisfying the need for privacy. When opened, the two areas fuse in a continuous open space.
The bright blue panels integrate the entry and bathroom doors along
one side and then turn the corner to become the kitchen’s cabinet fronts. The use of a saturated color, contrasting with the stark white and muted
colors, provides the volume with a distinct identity. The space should be understood as a container, into which a distinct object has been inserted.
The blue walls of the kitchen and bathroom volume express the essence of the design concept. The new apartment is conceived as practical, clutter-free, and vibrant, reflecting the jovial personality of the dweller.
Tiago do Vale Arquitectos 