Villa Talha, located at Herdade da Costa Terra Golf & Ocean Club in Melides, is presented as a notable model of contemporary architecture in Portugal.
This property was designed by the company Contacto Atlântico, following a design philosophy that harmonizes the clarity of forms with a deep sensitivity to the surrounding environment. The project was meticulously planned to respect the local topography, native flora, and the cultural identity of the region.
Thus, the residence integrates organically into the landscape where it is situated, aligning with the standards of excellence expected in high-end residential architecture.
The Ciutat Vella Apartment was conceived to be located in the historic core of the city of Valencia, a place that invites discovery, not just visitation. In this dense urban fabric, there is a coexistence of over two millennia of history, where Roman, medieval, and modernist legacies integrate harmoniously with current daily life.
The project was carried out in a building dating from 1890. The challenge undertaken by the project consisted of maintaining the historical identity of the structure while adapting it to meet the needs of contemporary life.
The project team described Casa de los Patios as a residence that does not interfere with the surrounding landscape but rather integrates it. The concept is based on a series of low volumes arranged across the terrain, creating an environment that fosters tranquility and connection with natural elements.
The lot, which has a fan shape, is located in Estancias del Pilar. It is situated in a vast area of old countryside, offering wide views of the golf course on its largest side, as well as a lagoon in the background and a public park positioned in the front. The terrain is characterized by being flat but featuring gentle hills, described as generous and vibrant, possessing its own essence and rhythm.
The clients presented the challenge of creating a unique design for this land, capable of maximizing its visual potential. The starting point of the project was the clients' appreciation and history with the field and nature, ensuring that all decisions were made in harmony with the search for an atmosphere of serenity. The primary intention was to conceive a home that belonged to the place without overpowering it, considering the existing topography, established trees, and the human scale of the rural environment.
The challenge went beyond the technical aspect, becoming sensory: how to build a high-quality refuge without isolating the outside world? The solution found was dispersion. Instead of concentrating all functions in a single block, the house unfolds into low modules that spread across the terrain and are interconnected by walkways. Courtyards were inserted among these volumes.
The courtyards play a central role in the project, functioning as the core of the residence. They establish a path leading from the exterior to the most private spaces of the house, gradually modulating the transition between public and intimate, between exposed and protected. Each courtyard has a specific function, and each tree contributes a distinct color, resulting in a fusion between the construction and the landscape.
The distribution of areas follows the function. From the street, one accesses a connection space that leads to the more open social area, such as the gourmet space equipped with a barbecue. This space connects to the upper floor, where leisure and playful activities are located, such as the studio and the game room. Through a large walkway, the flow directs towards the private and daily use social area of the family, including the kitchen, living room, and dining room. Following another walkway and passing through another courtyard, one reaches the children's bedroom section. Finally, a walkway culminates in the master suite hall, where all rooms are designed with a focus on cross-ventilation, natural light, and beautiful views.
The chosen materials carry a particular memory. On the exterior, wood was subjected to a Japanese artisanal treatment known as shou sugi ban, after being burned, to achieve the ideal tone and texture that increases its durability and comfort without losing its organic nature. Inside, American oak underwent several tests to achieve the desired shine, warmth, and tone.
The boundaries between the interior and exterior are dissolved: external walls continue inside, and internal finishes extend and transform into furniture, allowing a single element to resolve all functional needs. The text concludes that the experience provided by the house is the expansion of the temporal sensation in nature, inspiring calm and connection. Light does not just illuminate; it reveals, and the work invites the inhabitant to be part of it, returning to those who live in it the experience of belonging to the place.
