In the periphery of Lisbon, a suburban area devoid of a distinct identity serves as the canvas for the Saramagal House, a project by Estúdio AMATAM. This locale, marked by a sporadic urban development lacking cohesive territorial policies, provided a unique challenge and opportunity for architectural intervention. The task at hand was not merely to erect a modern dwelling but to craft a residence that dialogues with its environment and catalyzes an improvement in the urban and visual cohesion of its neighborhood.
Saramagal House Technical Information
- Architects: Estúdio AMATAM
- Location: Rua Henrique Galvão, Lote 491, Bairro do Saramagal Grande, Odivelas, Portugal
- Topics: Portuguese Houses
- Area: 260 m2
- Completion Year: 2022
- Photographs: © Garcês
Above all, the aim was to create a family home that is functional and practical, but large enough for everyone who is invited to visit. Both outside and inside. A house to live in, to stop and look around, a house to contemplate its horizon.
– Estúdio AMATAM
Saramagal House Photographs
Contours and Context
The Saramagal House works in the face of two primary constraints: a steeply sloped site and its corner location. These initial hurdles were adeptly transformed into the driving forces behind the project’s innovative design. The architecture of the house is a direct response to the land’s topography, unfolding in a series of platforms that mimic the natural contours of the terrain. This approach not only minimizes the need for extensive land modification—a common practice in the area—but also establishes a symbiotic relationship between the built form and its natural surroundings.
The volumetric strategy of the house is articulated through a carefully considered manipulation of form and space. On the urban front, the house presents a modest two-story façade, expanding in scale along the side elevation as it descends into the hillside, eventually revealing a three-story structure at the rear. This gradation in scale not only integrates the building within its context but also maximizes the site’s inherent potential to offer expansive views over Lisbon and its environs.
Materiality plays a crucial role in reinforcing the house’s dialogue with its context. The external palette is deliberately restrained, with white serving as the predominant hue, punctuated by accents of grey. This chromatic choice enhances the interplay of light and shadow, further emphasizing the architectural form while establishing a harmonious contrast with the natural landscape. Internally, the distribution of spaces prioritizes visual and functional segregation between social and private areas, enhancing the spatial quality of the house. The use of walnut wood and copper accents within the interior spaces introduces a level of comfort and sophistication, underlining the architects’ attention to detail and materiality.
Ultimately, the Saramagal House is a bold statement on architecture’s potential to positively impact its immediate urban fabric and the broader landscape. Through a thoughtful approach to site, form, and material, Estúdio AMATAM has not only addressed the specific needs of its occupants but has also contributed to the ongoing discourse on sustainable and contextually aware design.
Saramagal House Plans
Saramagal House Image Gallery
About Estúdio AMATAM
Estúdio AMATAM was founded by Manuela Tamborino and João Escaleira Amaral, two architects who decided to join skills to embrace new challenges in various areas of Architecture and Urbanism. The studio operates in different scenarios and countries with formal and informal strategies. The search for innovative solutions punctuated with creative approaches that bring architecture closer to an art form, together with customer satisfaction, are vectors that guide the focus of this team.
Notes & Additional Credits
- Authors: João Amaral, Manuela Tamborino
- Collaborator: Vera Lúcia Ferreira
- Electrical and telecommunications engineering: Eng. Ricardo Esperto
- Structural engineering: PNA, Engenharia.
- Water supply & Plumbing engineering: PNA, Engenharia.
- Construction company: Paulo M. M. André – Construções, Lda.
