Form - the “body” of a building, everything that can be seen and touched - endows architecture with utility, meaning and emotion; without it, architecture would be nothing more than an aggregation of construction materials. It defines quality of life and comfort, confers identity, and determines a building’s sustainability and structural stability. It is not merely an aesthetic dimension, but the central element that shapes volume, delineates space and directly influences the way in which people experience architecture.
Villa La Moraleja
Vasco Vieira Arquitectos
The primary objective of this project was to create a structure in complete harmony with nature, establishing a continuous dialogue between the built space and its surrounding environment. The result is a building that appears as an organic extension of the landscape.
Set on a plot rich in mature trees, the villa threads its strategically positioned volumes through areas devoid of vegetation. This approach allowed the form to evolve naturally, resulting in a sequence of interconnected volumes that weave seamlessly through the site. Elevating parts of the structure above ground reduced the need for excavation and created a continuous visual relationship with the surrounding greenery.
Light and shadow generate a shifting interplay throughout the day, offering distinct spatial perspectives from different areas of the house. To further integrate the villa into its setting, the exterior materials were carefully selected: brown titanium-zinc cladding panels and timber surfaces, complemented by a green roof that blends seamlessly into the tree canopy.
Photography by Fernando Guerra; www.ultimasreportagens.com
ww.vascovieiraarquitectos.com
Casa Mavra
TAC Taller Alberto Calleja
The two sharply defined volumes in black concrete open towards the landscape, establishing a new order within their context. The house begins with a continuous wall that rises in parallel with the sound of water flowing along the staircase, defining the entrance from the street and initiating the journey towards the core of the structure.
The western horizontal volume accommodates the social and public spaces, articulated through connections at all corners between lush, planted courtyards embedded within the interior spaces. These courtyards engage horizontally with the surrounding landscape, extending its presence into the architecture.
To the east, the bedrooms are arranged through circulation nodes and long corridors that allow for contemplation. The space is punctuated by vertical and horizontal openings through which sunlight and rain enter—through both roof and walls—creating a constantly shifting atmosphere and a rich sensory experience throughout day and night.
Photography by Onnis Luque; www.onnisluque.com
www.talleralbertocalleja.com
Words by Monica Ady
Discover the full version of this story in Volume VI.