In the contemporary urban tapestry, where the architectural ensemble often risks succumbing to uniformity, Corpo Atelier’s “Between Two White Walls” project emerges as a narrative of introspection and serenity. Drawing inspiration from Raul Brandão’s vivid depiction of the sky’s fainting blue and the stark whiteness reminiscent of a whitewash in “Os pescadores,” the project serves as a powerful homage to the capacity of minimalist architecture to evoke profound emotional responses.
Between Two White Walls Technical Information
- Architects1-2: Corpo Atelier
- Location: Vilamoura, Portugal
- Topics: White in Architecture, Portuguese House
- Project Year: 2017
- Photographs: © Ricardo Oliveira Alves
Sky of a fainting blue – beneath, a slap of whitewash. Reverberation of sun and the bluest blue, the whitest white. Cubes, geometric lines, animal light that trembles and vibrates like the wings of a cicada
– Raul Brandão in “Os pescadores”
Between Two White Walls Photographs
A Sanctuary of Light and Geometry
Situated along a burgeoning golf course urbanization, marked by empty plots waiting silently for their transformation, “Between Two White Walls” asserts itself not through grandiosity but through a calculated retreat from its surroundings. This residential design is a deliberate counteraction to the prevailing uncertainty of future constructions, offering a sanctuary that is both open and enclosed, public and profoundly private.
Corpo Atelier has meticulously crafted a space that, at its core, is a dialogue between the simplicity of geometric forms and the complexity of human emotion. The two white walls that give the project its name act as guardians of privacy, enveloping the residence in a cocoon that shields it from the unpredictability of its future context. These barriers are not oppressive but liberating, allowing the occupants to engage with the external world on their own terms.
Within these confines lies an inner landscape composed of cubic shapes, each dedicated to a single function. This arrangement is more than a mere architectural decision; it is a philosophical stance on the nature of space and its impact on human well-being. The cubes provide a sense of security and protection, creating a series of interconnected sanctuaries that are both introspective and outward-looking.
The only element that dares to break this inward focus is the horizontal volume of the swimming pool. This deliberate architectural gesture projects itself towards the south, emerging from the protective embrace of the white walls. It offers occupants a moment of volunteered exposure to the world beyond, a brief connection with the distant landscape before retreating back into the privacy of the home.
“Between Two White Walls” reflects the essence of architectural space as a mediator between the individual and the environment. It challenges the conventional understanding of privacy and exposure, proposing a living space that is both a refuge and a platform for engagement with the external world. Through its use of light, shadow, and form, the project invites occupants to experience the daily rhythms of nature, from the trembling and vibrating light reminiscent of a cicada’s wings to the serene beauty of a sky painted in the faintest shades of blue.
Between Two White Walls Plans
Between Two White Walls Image Gallery
About Corpo Atelier
Corpo Atelier, an architecture and art studio, delves deep into the exploration and expansion of what they term “architectural anatomy” with a focus on its exploration and expansion. Drawing parallels between human and architectural anatomy, it views structure, walls, windows, and doors as essential components akin to bones, skin, eyes, and mouths, each with a unique function yet boundless in potential. This perspective allows endless experimentation beyond biological constraints, fostering innovative spatial configurations and interactions. At Corpo, the fusion of these elements in novel ways, through scale manipulation, unconventional materials, and creative modification, transforms architectural practice into a conceptual exploration, challenging conventional boundaries with intelligence and irony.
Notes & Additional Credits
- Design Team: Filipe Paixão, Rui Martins, Nicolò Martin
- Constructor: Window to the Future
