Experimental

This proposal for the housing complex at Quinta das Conchinhas stands out for the way it engages with both its immediate urban surroundings and the broader urban fabric. Public space is understood here not as a leftover between buildings, but as a continuous network of relationships and pathways.

The siting strategy is based on fragmenting the programme into four autonomous volumes of identical morphology, regularly arranged across the site. This layout allows for transversal permeability between the upper and lower levels of the terrain, ensuring the continuity of public circulation between Azinhaga Baptista and the residential development to the rear. The simple, sequential arrangement of the buildings encourages movement, dwelling, and the activation of interstitial spaces through accessible and appropriable outdoor areas.

The site's level changes are absorbed through a subtle volumetric stepping, enabling the ensemble to adapt to the natural topography and reinforcing its integration into the urban fabric.

From a construction standpoint, the proposal is based on a single repeated floor plan across all four volumes. This repetition and modularity allow for resource rationalisation, cost control, and construction efficiency, enabling investment to be focused on shared spaces and housing quality.