Geometry, nature and memory. Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura
22/02/2023.
[Ansião] Portugal
metalocus, ANDRÉS BLANCO
metalocus, ANDRÉS BLANCO
The Portuguese architecture studio directed by Bruno Dias has completed a house located in Casal de S. Brás, a small town that is part of the municipality of Ansião, in the district of Leiría, in the central region of Portugal.
Baptized as the Chouso house, it stands on land with exceptional views of both the town and the Sicó hills (Sierra de Sicó). We find ourselves with a plot surrounded by nature and history, which helped the architect to give meaning to the project so that the new house dialogues with the memory of the place.
In the area, there is an old threshing floor that tells us about its ancient agricultural past, a space where people socialized and from which the house takes its name.
Baptized as the Chouso house, it stands on land with exceptional views of both the town and the Sicó hills (Sierra de Sicó). We find ourselves with a plot surrounded by nature and history, which helped the architect to give meaning to the project so that the new house dialogues with the memory of the place.
In the area, there is an old threshing floor that tells us about its ancient agricultural past, a space where people socialized and from which the house takes its name.
Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura. Photograph by Hugo Santos Silva
Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura. Photograph by Hugo Santos Silva
Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura. Photograph by Hugo Santos Silva
Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura. Photograph by Hugo Santos Silva
Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura. Photograph by Hugo Santos Silva
Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura. Photograph by Hugo Santos Silva
Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura. Photograph by Hugo Santos Silva
Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura. Photograph by Hugo Santos Silva
Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura. Photograph by Hugo Santos Silva
Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura. Photograph by Hugo Santos Silva
Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura. Photograph by Hugo Santos Silva
Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura. Photograph by Hugo Santos Silva
Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura. Photograph by Hugo Santos Silva
Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura. Photograph by Hugo Santos Silva
Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura. Photograph by Hugo Santos Silva
Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura. Photograph by Hugo Santos Silva
Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura. Photograph by Hugo Santos Silva
Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura. Photograph by Hugo Santos Silva
Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura. Photograph by Hugo Santos Silva
Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura. Photograph by Hugo Santos Silva
Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura. Photograph by Hugo Santos Silva
Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura. Photograph by Hugo Santos Silva
Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura. Photograph by Hugo Santos Silva
Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura. Photograph by Hugo Santos Silva
Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura. Photograph by Hugo Santos Silva
Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura. Photograph by Hugo Santos Silva
Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura. Photograph by Hugo Santos Silva
Axonometry. Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura.
Ground floor plan. Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura.
Longitudinal section. Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura.
Longitudinal section. Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura.
Bruno Dias Arquitectura designed a proposal following an idealized concept that hybridizes nature and the construction of the house, thus connecting two opposing worlds. The house has an "L" shaped plan that divides the program into two different sections.
“CHOUSO” means a fenced or closed area; a hedge grown by shepherds to hold the cattle.
The plan layout is set into two programmatic “wings”, to the East, we find the technical areas – barbecue and garage – and to the West the social and private areas – study, bedrooms, living and dining area, kitchen and pantry.
The interior décor is based on genuine materials, mainly stone and wood, and all elements used in the finishings were designed by the architectural studio.
Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura. Photograph by Hugo Santos Silva.
Chouso house by Bruno Dias Arquitectura. Photograph by Hugo Santos Silva.
Project description by Brunos Dias
Casa Chouso is located in Casal de S. Brás, a humble village which is part of Ansião, on a piece of land with a superb view over both the village and the hills of Sicó (Serras da Sicó).
The general idea was defined from the primary analysis when first visiting the site. The land presented great natural surroundings, overflowing with clusters of trees and rocks. Furthermore, we were also bestowed with fragments of history that go back to old folk traditions. Namely, as the land was primarily used for animal pastures, we found a threshing floor that was used not only for threshing but also where people socialised. It is from this first impression that the concept for this project comes to us, Casa Chouso.
“CHOUSO” means a fenced or closed area; a hedge grown by shepherds to hold the cattle.
Taking advantage of the particularities of the land, Casa Chouso was built to be in tune with its surroundings and emerge from the enveloping nature, as well as coming together as the ideal answer to what our customers had pictured for a home. Thus, it was essential to come up with a project that would not only provide privacy from the nearby road but also spaces that would allow us to fully enjoy the enveloping landscapes.
Casa Chouso por Bruno Dias Arquitectura. Fotografía por Hugo Santos Silva.
Therefore, the project conceptually develops from an L-shape, where the social and technical areas are delimited by a patio. This transitional area tunes into the pre-existing surroundings, in analogy to the threshing floor that you can find on the land.
The plan layout that starts from this space, is set into two programmatic “wings”, to the East, we find the technical areas – barbecue and garage – and to the West the social and private areas – study, bedrooms, living and dining area, kitchen and pantry.
The interior décor is based on genuine materials, mainly stone and wood, that give the spaces a modern and cosy character. In addition, all the elements used in the finishings were designed by our architectural studio.
More information
Architects
Project team
Bruno Lucas Dias, Tânia Matias, Cristiana Henriques.
Client
Pedro and Catarina.
Builders
Pireslar – Construções, lda. Carlos Miguel Constructora.
Area
420.00 m².
Dates
2022.
Location
Rua da Lagoa, Casal de S.Brás, Ansião, Portugal.
Manufacturers
Plumbing / Eletricity.- Canalizações Alvorgense.
Carpentry.- Portave.
Floors.- Paumarc.
Coating Materials.- Carlos Silva e Miguel Ferreira.
Aluminium.- Systalprof.
Metalworking.- Ofimetal.
Carpentry.- Portave.
Floors.- Paumarc.
Coating Materials.- Carlos Silva e Miguel Ferreira.
Aluminium.- Systalprof.
Metalworking.- Ofimetal.
Photography
Bruno Dias Arquitectura
Bruno Dias Arquitectura is a studio created in Ansião in 2012, by Bruno Lucas Dias.
A structure that works with the collaboration of different professionals, including engineers, landscape architects and designers.
Their interventions at the level of smaller-scale projects, such as housing, services and equipment, acquire their identity where each intervention is based on a specific and appropriate proposal for each situation.
In architecture, more than responding to a specific program or request, it is important for us from a formal point of view, the dynamic of uses and the interaction with the place.
A structure that works with the collaboration of different professionals, including engineers, landscape architects and designers.
Their interventions at the level of smaller-scale projects, such as housing, services and equipment, acquire their identity where each intervention is based on a specific and appropriate proposal for each situation.
In architecture, more than responding to a specific program or request, it is important for us from a formal point of view, the dynamic of uses and the interaction with the place.
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