fala atelier weaves glass brick and metal mesh to shape apartment for two in porto

waves of glass brick and clouds of metal by fala atelier

A ground floor shop in a banal and narrow 1970s housing block gets a second life by architecture practice fala atelier. Sited in Porto, the building now houses an apartment for two, with a clear program but an ambigious layout. Waves of glass brick and clouds of metal mesh intertwine to transform this originally non domestic space. 

Two curved walls run smoothly through both levels, gently dissociating private and public areas. Meanwhile, a longitudinal axis is emphasized by two metallic masks. The back facade is a compound layering of glass, mirror, metallic cutouts, steady patters, and fiddly handrails. The front is a misty mass of clouds.

waves of glass and clouds of metal by Fala Atelier | all images © Francisco Ascensao

dissolving the traditional boundaries of a house

The material palette set forth by fala atelier (see more here) dissolves the traditional boundaries of a house. Vast surfaces of glass bricks, tiles, and light blue are occasionally interrupted by dots of marble, lines of wood, and blatant red elements. ‘One could refer to Ito’s sense of erotic transparency and Hasegawa’s experiments with overlays and layers. The project is a spectacular answer to a non spectacular question. The domestic space is a stage and dwelling becomes performing; the user becomes an actor and spectator to the routines of daily life,’ concludes the practice. 

vast surfaces of glass bricks are often interrupted by red elements

fala atelier transforms a shop from a 1970s housing block

kitchen area

breaking the traditional layout of a house

tiles complementing the glass bricks

hints of marble complete the material palette of the apartment

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project info:

name: 097 | waves of glass and clouds of metal

location: Porto, Portugal

architect: fala atelier | @fala.atelier

client: private

design team: Filipe Magalhães, Ana Luisa Soares, Ahmed Belkhodja, Lera Samovich,
Ana Lima, Joana Sendas, João Carlos Lopes

engineer: Paulo Sousa

landscape: Pomo

contractor: Civiflanco 
project dates: 2018-2021
site area: 150 sqm 
gross floor area: 200 sqm