Terrace in Areia Branca
Year
Local
Images
The terrace is located approximately 100 meters from the beach, battered by sea winds. As it is situated between other residences, at the rear of the building and enclosed by high walls, it does not have a direct beach view. However, this position provides privacy (punctuated to the south by areas of contact with the neighborhood) and sun exposure throughout the day. Even though it benefits from the Mediterranean climate, the presence of salt-laden winds diminishes bioclimatic comfort and hinders the survival of vegetation.
The proposal took into account the bioclimatic characteristics of the site, aiming to increase comfort and facilitate planting. It must be coherent with the built environment, both in terms of spatial organization and materials, protecting the physical, visual, and functional relationships between interior and exterior and unifying the whole.
The terrace is characterized by being a completely open space where furniture has been placed in specific areas to indicate the potential functions of each zone. The design embraces this potential and divides the space into 4 distinct zones: a zone associated with the living room that serves as an extension of it (ZONE 1), a sheltered space with a unique ambiance that complements the previous zone (ZONE 2), an outdoor dining area associated with the kitchen and dining room (ZONE 3) that incorporates some support structures for daily activities, and finally, a leisure area associated with the bedrooms that prioritizes being intimate and sheltered (ZONE 4). Although each zone has different functions and ambiences, the repetition of materials and elements, as well as the very structuring of the space, gives them a unified image.
The division of the space is achieved through planters which, in addition to breaking the uncomfortable feeling of spaciousness, serve as windbreaks in an attempt to create welcoming seating areas. These are made of dark gray metal and have variable heights depending on whether you want to create more or less enclosed environments.
The proposed vegetation is mainly perennial, reducing waste production and maintaining the main structure of the terrace throughout the year. Seasonality will be felt by the presence or absence of flowering.