aspa: apartment renovation in junqueira

‘junqueira apartment’ by aspa, lisobn, portugalimage © FG + SGall images courtesy of aspa

the ‘junqueira apartment’, originally built in lisbon in 2006, is a one-storey flat with a considerable ceiling height of 5.2 meters. the renovation,as explained by portuguese practice aspa arquitectos, can be more appropriately considered an extension rather than a refurbishment since the re-designsimply reinterprets the previously ’empty’ space in relation to the volume of the structure. the new space can be characterized by two basic elements:first, a foreign mezzanine component that intrudes into the original space and runs through the linear plan as a hovering spine, creating a new dynamic relationship between private and public program and almost doubling the livable floor area. the second element is the monochromatic color schememade aggressively apparent through the smooth geometric surfaces juxtaposed from the natural wood floors, highlighted from the natural light enteringthe peripheral existing walls.

black mezzanine structure integrating into the original apartmentimage © FG + SG

reflective surface and longitudinal corridor through new spacesimage © FG + SG

vertical connection to the additionimage © FG + SG

upstairs spaceimage © FG + SG

image © FG + SG

dichotomy of black and whiteimage © FG + SG

all-white programimage © FG + SG

original space

floor plan / original level 0

floor plan / mezzanine level

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project info:

location: lisbon, portugaldate: 2011 – 2012architecture: aspa – josé maria cumbre + nuno sousa caetano (collaborator – rita laginha e rita brito)area: 110.00 m2foundations and structures: prpc engenheiros – joão paulo cardosowater and sewerage installations: francisco carmonaconstruction: salvaria lda