Patio Houses

Almost imperceptible and perfectly concealed, there is an urbanization of nine dwellings between the Port of Leixões and the historic area of Matosinhos, a project that deserved the distinction of Finalist in the III Bienal Iberoamericana de Arquitectura y Ingenieria Civil (2002). The urbanization is bounded by a closed granite wall, in contrast to the open interior spaces created.

The nine houses have only one floor and are distinguished by an articulating element – the patio: not only serves as a private outdoor space for each villa and its lighting, but also functions as a link between all the villas, relating them and creating a set.

The structure is generally composed of reinforced concrete walls and others in stone masonry, which surround the façades of the houses and some specific interior pillars. The roofing slabs are solid reinforced concrete and the floor slabs are ground floor, concreted over a Tout-Venant layer.