The apartment is located in the 'red towers' (Torres Vermelhas), a project by João Serôdio from 1972. The intervention opens up and combines kitchen and living room to form one continuous and bright space with double aspect, while keeping the spirit of the original building in tact. Two concrete columns introduce a new order to this rather undefined open space. They support lights that illuminate the ceiling and act as visual reference points. A white terrazzo floor flows through all rooms and reflects the light deep into the space.
LocationPorto, PortugalProgramResidentialSize100 m²ClientPrivateCompletion2020TeamFrancisco Pereira, Max Kahlen, Christopher DyvikPhotographsAntoine Espinasseau
The other day an estate agent visited this apartment, a small project of ours in Porto. While walking through the spaces he complained badly about the two concrete columns that we had cast in place, as these columns seemed to be in the way and difficult to remove for future tenants. We were fascinated and happy about his passionate reaction. In a way his complaint was spot-on. Yes, they are in the way. But maybe that’s the beautiful thing. That’s what makes it cozy. The original apartment plan felt somehow undefined and led us to introduced these columns that hold lights inside their tip. They establish a new order that seems grand and generous and somehow out of place – two objects that you get used to over time and around which your life unfolds.
