“Reactive Architecture“: this is how the building’s architects define it REM’A studiowhich in collaboration with Day by daythey took care of reorganization of the building A’mar, historic residence in Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal. Feedback because their action was not simple restyling, but a work of redefining functionality, aesthetics and complexity that was also done according to what the building itself had to say. The story of this one electronic villas was born with its owner, a professional who had drawn inspiration from his travels for the conception of his home, given life in a small neo-renaissance gem with exotic nuances and coming from worlds that seem distant from each other. In their work, the architects succeeded in putting together elements that responded to the need to create a subtle interaction between them preserve and renewwhich celebrates both spacetimes.
The research worked for that detailed preservation of the facade of the building, respecting as much as possible the formal and aesthetic integrity of all its parts. Careful attention was paid to decorative and color details, and the designers also succeeded in discreetly expanding the building, defining two levels of interpretation and use of the spaces: commercial on the ground floor and accommodation on the first floor and in the attic. The expansion was designed by accepting red, a color that is less prominent in the original building, and to introduce a vertical rhythm, as opposed to the existing horizontal lines. Thus, there was a clear visual separation between the two execution periods. It is necessary to separate the entrances, since the space is used twice. Therefore, the main entrance to the shopping area was located on a corner axis, while access to housing was organized along the side street.
In contrast to the exterior of the building, which boasts a strong color palette, the interior design takes a more nuanced approach. The immediate environment, whether programmed or multi-level, is highlighted with bright color accents and linked to the materiality of the elements in a peaceful white sea, promoting a hierarchy between the design elements that make up the furniture. Some finishes, in the bathroom and on the terrace, play to improve the linearity between past and present here too. The closest approach is to leave the public space empty and divide the living space instead by following the longitudinal axis of the building so that the emphasis is placed on organization and functionality and not wasted on the use of square meters. A yellow staircase connects the upper floor and its mezzanine, which connects the bedrooms to the terrace with an open view of the city.
Ludovica Proietti studied architecture never to become an architect. After a master’s degree in design, she completed an internship with Domitilla Dardi and became her assistant, both teaching and curating various events, specializing in design history and architecture. He led talks and events related to design in the Roman co-working space Ala/34 until 2019 and now teaches at various institutions in the capital and is the editor-in-chief of the blog Cieloterradesign. A consultant and freelance journalist, he cares about the culture of modern design, always trying to favor perspectives that will never be obvious.