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Casa Matias Alves in Leiria, Portugal by Joana Marcelino Studio

Portuguese architect and interior designer Joana Marcelino Studio has designed ''Casa Matias Alves'' rehabilitation and expansion of a building in the historic center of Leiria, Portugal.

Project description by architect:

This is the rehabilitation and expansion of a building in the historic center of Leiria for two- family housing. The total recovery of the existing façade is based on a very common language of the city of Leiria, with the openings in bordeaux and white colors, surrounded by stonework. The vertical extension that marks the new phase in construction, is surrounded by a white wooden slat. The intersection of both architectural moments dictates the uniqueness of this project.

a girl sitting on stairs reading a book under the skylight roof image © Ivo Tavares studio

From a gable roof, on the rear elevation, there is a glazing that follows the slope of the roof, and which marks the interior of the space with unique natural light transposing the city into the interior of the house and giving the feeling of outer space .
Inside, architecture materializes the experience of this family, positively influencing the day-to-day and family behaviors.

“In all the spaces that I design, I want each of them to have its own identity.” Architect Joana Marcelino

triangular roof with wooden structure image © Ivo Tavares studio

The staircase, in the first section, solid in pine wood leads to the common and familiar area. The simplicity of this space takes shape with the architectural lightness of the second flight of stairs positioned in the center, differentiating the kitchen and living space. However, the composition of the staircase, the iron guards that suspend it, manages to unify and mark a transparency between both spaces at the same time.

wooden staircase with metallic handrail image © Ivo Tavares studio

The upper floor, composed of private areas (bedrooms), welcomes us with a double height area, accompanied by the glazing that folds on the roof, conveying a spatial sense of verticality and projection over the city. The mezzanine, composed of an office and leisure area, conveys a visual depth achieved by the wooden structure in sight, which accompanies the roof and which surrounds the openings. From this two skylights are born with a privileged view, directly over the castle of the city of Leiria.

skylight in ceiling let the natural sun light enters the house image © Ivo Tavares studio

The soul of the space is born from the harmony of the project between the existing, the rehabilitation and the expansion and uniformity between the materials used, combining the various shades and textures.
The materialization of the space contributes to the family atmosphere, which affirms calm in the city, in an extremely architectural environment full of light.

woman walking in front of bathroom door image © Ivo Tavares studio

green plant inside the flower pot image © Ivo Tavares studio

circular mirror on the white wall in bathroom image © Ivo Tavares studio

green plants inside the pot near the mirror image © Ivo Tavares studio

a girl sitting on wooden stairs image © Ivo Tavares studio

large windows in the ceiling to let the sun light enters the room image © Ivo Tavares studio

double volume room with skylight image © Ivo Tavares studio

skylight in the roof and large windows let the sun light enters the house image © Ivo Tavares studio

a fashionable chair near the window image © Ivo Tavares studio

office desk with grey chair image © Ivo Tavares studio

office room with triangular ceiling image © Ivo Tavares studio

a girl walking down stairs image © Ivo Tavares studio

wooden staircase from above image © Ivo Tavares studio

a young girl walking down on stairs image © Ivo Tavares studio

room with white walls image © Ivo Tavares studio

modern black and white kitchen image © Ivo Tavares studio

staircase located near kitchen image © Ivo Tavares studio

green plants in pots on shelves image © Ivo Tavares studio

modern wooden staircase with metallic handrails image © Ivo Tavares studio

wooden staircase image © Ivo Tavares studio

white metallic handrails image © Ivo Tavares studio

staircase steps image © Ivo Tavares studio

white kitchen with black shelves image © Ivo Tavares studio

wooden table with metallic chairs image © Ivo Tavares studio

staircase handrails image © Ivo Tavares studio

white staircase with parquet floor image © Ivo Tavares studio

mesh chair and wooden table image © Ivo Tavares studio

white room image © Ivo Tavares studio

a small table with two chairs near the stairs image © Ivo Tavares studio

a girl going upstairs on staircase image © Ivo Tavares studio

Casa Matias Alves in Leiria, Portugal by Joana Marcelino Studioimage © Ivo Tavares studio

grey sofa near brick wall image © Ivo Tavares studio

wooden finishing used for the staircase image © Ivo Tavares studio

flooring tiles at the entrance door image © Ivo Tavares studio

narrow alley image © Ivo Tavares studio

narrow alley with tall buildings image © Ivo Tavares studio

building facade image © Ivo Tavares studio

opened windows from the facade image © Ivo Tavares studio

alley with trees image © Ivo Tavares studio

building facade with yellow color image © Ivo Tavares studio

the alley view at night image © Ivo Tavares studio

street lamp at night image © Ivo Tavares studio

Casa Matias Alves in Leiria, Portugal by Joana Marcelino Studioimage © Ivo Tavares studio

girl is smiling from window image © Ivo Tavares studio

Casa Matias Alves in Leiria, Portugal by Joana Marcelino Studioimage © Ivo Tavares studio

Ground Floor Plan

First Floor Plan

Second Floor Plan

Third Floor Plan

Roof Floor Plan

Section drawing

Section drawing

Main Elevation

Side Elevation

Project name: Casa Matias Alves

Architecture firm: Joana Marcelino Studio

Architect in charge: Joana Marcelino

Location: Leiria, Portugal

Built area:180 m² 

Year: 2017

Photography: Ivo Tavares studio


By Naser Nader Ibrahim

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