Villa Österlen, the second architectural project completed by Note Design Studio, was built on a sloping plot within a village located in southern Sweden. This project was conceived to integrate organically with the surrounding scenery, surrounded by orchards and gentle hills, providing privacy and comfort for a contemporary family.
The conception of Villa Österlen is deeply linked to the historical context of the village. The region's cultural heritage and proximity to the local church greatly influenced the selection of materials and the overall volume of the construction.
The residence's architecture shares many characteristics with the traditional 'skånelänga,' a type of elongated and narrow building common to the area. This reference served as a creative starting point, acting more as a conceptual impetus than a strict mold. The house follows the slope of the terrain, functioning as a 'harmonious link' that settles delicately into the landscape and facilitates passage between the various directions of neighboring buildings. Its structure, composed of plastered masonry covered with Rheinzink, reflects the tones and materials characteristic of this historic preservation zone.
Jesper Mellgren, the architect responsible for the project, commented that 'the architecture is minimalist, which increases the responsibility regarding materials.' He added that the nearby church became a crucial reference point, observing that both the plaster and the zinc age with distinction, causing the facade to change tone over time, while the metallic components acquire a matte bluish patina.
The view of Hanöbukten bay constitutes a central aspect of the entire house, dictating both its architecture and its placement on the land. Elements such as the large skylight on the upper floor, used to notably frame the landscape, and the pivot doors are vital components of the overall composition, appearing large, elegant, and richly detailed.
As was the case with the studio's first project, defining a clear design line from the beginning was fundamental. Subsequent phases focused intensely on details, technical adaptations, and maintaining the original architectural intention throughout the construction process.
The primary materials defining the interior include warm-toned Swedish pine, combined with specific stones, such as Norwegian slate and Bohuslän granite. These materials were chosen locally due to their durability and low environmental impact. Considerable time was dedicated to developing a particular finish for the wood, resulting in a soft, milky tone achieved through a mixture of oil-based pigments and bleach.
Casa Sobre as Colinas (House Over The Hills), designed by Diogo Aguiar Studio, is a single-family residence located in the Porto Mountains. This construction was developed using a modular wooden system and has a southwest orientation.
The house's design aims to replicate the appearance of the distant mountains through a sophisticated geometric composition. This composition uses identical volumes arranged with inclined planes in various directions.
The initial architectural scope planned a house with three bedrooms, structured into five modules. Additionally, three more autonomous modules were incorporated, which offer direct external access, thus ensuring greater functional adaptability over time.
The Casa Aroeira project was conceived based on the analysis of the particularities of a steeply sloped plot of land, located in a closed condominium in the interior of São Paulo. The residence was planned to take advantage of an exuberant view, optimizing the implantation on the lot.
Due to the strong inclination of the land, the house was structured in its upper section. This arrangement allows for guaranteeing the best possible views and uses the corner of the lot to create two distinct types of access.
One of the accesses is level for pedestrians, serving on the side street, while vehicles use the lower street to access the garage.
The firm Set Architects completed the renovation of an apartment dating from the beginning of the 20th century, located in the Nomentano neighborhood of Rome. The project involved reinterpreting the property's traditional layout, applying a modern vision to the space.
The description of the project was provided by the architecture team itself. This work demonstrates how the firm Set Architects managed to modernize an old structure, maintaining its historical essence while introducing contemporary elements.
