“Meu pé de Cacau”
Project for 4 holiday apartments in Paul do Mar.
“ Pé de Cacau“ is nestled within a narrow strip of land located in-between the Atlantic Ocean and a tall volcanic scarp, roughly at 30 meters above sea level. The 3000 square-meter site extends 20 meters upwards, where the whole architectural program develops spread into fragmented volumes which dissolves the construction’s impact and, simultaneously, provides small private spaces for each one of the 4 built studios.
Some terraces supported by sturdy basalt stone walls were found in the site and kept as a construction bias which was later adopted to organize the intervention throughout the slope where new platforms gave place to the emerging volumes, one of which, at a higher level, holds the social areas where an infinity swimming pool, wood deck and outdoor shower are located, complemented with a smoking kiln and exterior kitchen built under a wood, clear polycarbonate and wicker porch. Basalt stone is also used in paths and terraces as pavement, following the local construction fashion.
The studios have dominant views towards the South where the ocean, seascape and Paul do Mar’s cliffs and scarps are present. Each has a lounge area equipped with a kitchenette, a sleeping area, bathroom with shower and a covered outdoor terrace or porch. They are structurally built out of concrete with masonry walls and insulated on the outside with rendered and white painted cork panels which provides optimal acoustic and thermal properties paired with solid wood and double glass windows and doors.
Luxurious plantations managed and planted by the owner dominate all the exterior areas, including the construction’s flat green roofs, manifesting as a concept and drive force of this project from its genesis to completion. Both locally found and unique exotic species are present in this garden which aims to be both didactic with every plant displaying its ID label, and as physical barriers that aid as privacy filter and wind protection from the strong Atlantic winds that occasionally strike the place.
Architects Susanne Selders, Elizabeth Nobrega
published in Archdaily: https://www.archdaily.com.br/br/950345/casa-pe-de-cacau-mayer-and-selders
published in Archello: https://archello.com/project/pe-de-cacau