atelier do cardoso completes building for young cancer patients

‘casa acreditar’ is a project in porto by lisbon-based architecture practice atelier do cardoso with a very specific program: to design a house for 16 children and adolescent with cancer who during the period of treatments need a place to stay with their families. as such, the main objective of the project was to create a building with maximum comfort living spaces. these ones should aid in the process of overcoming the longing, resulting in a familiar environment where friendship and solidarity coexist.

image © joão morgado

another concern that prevailed in the requirements of atelier do cardoso’s project was the cost containment theme, where they were dealing with a venture whose total financing resulted from donations and patronage. because of this, they delineated a strategy that went through with the choice of portuguese materials and brands that allowed them — from an early stage — to establish the involvement of all stakeholders and donations. in addition to these issues, they were also asked to take into account the issue of strength and durability of the materials chosen.

image © joão morgado

in formal terms, the concept design corresponds to a parallelepiped from which sections were subtracted, creating voids that are reflected on the ground as patios. these apertures establish an important relation between the interiors and the exterior. the voids mark several important moments, as if the case of the main entrance, the children’s patio, or the entrance patio.

image © joão morgado

the organization of the program had as the main premise the typology of the users of the building, defining specific areas for exclusive use of families and areas that are intended for volunteers. it comprises four floors with the main access located on the ground floor. this floor also hosts the program for volunteers and visitors who can occasionally access certain spaces, as well as a meeting and training room which can function independently in relation to the building.

image © joão morgado

the house itself occupies the upper floors. in the first floor, the studio implemented the program of common use including living rooms, kitchen, and laundry with their respective patios and storage areas. on the two upper floors are the bedrooms, eight per floor. the second floor is intended for younger children with a multipurpose activity room and the third and last floor reserved for youngsters, allowing them greater autonomy and privacy, as they are further away from the common areas.

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: juliana neira | designboom