challenged with the task of reconstructing an existing building in lisbon, leopold banchini architects has collaborated with daniel zamarbide to form ‘casa do monte’ – a single family home over three levels. situated within a neighborhood that was built around the historic ‘chapel of nossa senhora do monte’, the area lies on a steep gradient that overlooks the portuguese capital. by utilizing raw materials and a pared back material palette, the project focuses on bringing natural light into the spaces and creating rich spatial experiences. 

leopold banchini exposes the concrete structure of casa do monte in lisbon designboom
the dining room and view of the lower level terrace and garden

all images courtesy of leopold banchini

 

 

located on the steep hillside, the former building could only accessed by narrow steps, resulting in the house being abandoned and left to ruin. leopold banchini and daniel zamarbide‘s intervention seeks to retain some of the existing character by preserving the regular rhythm of the historical openings within the new white façade. however, once inside, large volumes have been formed in the interior to create more open spaces that bring in an abundance of natural light. double-height volumes are also utilized throughout, creating a variety of spatial experiences and highlighting the concrete structure that is carved into.

leopold banchini exposes the concrete structure of casa do monte in lisbon designboom
the lower level living room with views to the narrow street behind

 

 

the interior space is characterized by the concrete structure that is left exposed, creating an honest architectural expression. to offset the predominance of concrete, pink and white marble from a nearby quarry has been taken and implemented to bring a minimal decorative feature to the internal spaces. a large volume of this stone has been used to create the core of the building that houses key elements such as the kitchen and shower. this core element also includes the bedroom space, resulting in a beautifully intimate area that can opened or closed off by sliding doors. in the other rooms, light fabric curtains are used to form visual divisions and afford privacy. 

leopold banchini exposes the concrete structure of casa do monte in lisbon designboom
a metallic spiral staircase connects all three levels and the roof terrace

 

 

to ascend through the levels of ‘casa do monte’, a blue, metallic staircase punctures the structure, creating a minimal intervention that also successfully contrasts against the grey concrete. upon reaching the top level, the house boasts a rooftop pool that provides a panoramic view of the city below. on the lower level, a small garden area has been formed, giving residents direct access to nature and bringing in natural light and ventilation. this external space is decorated using locally produced azulejos tiles, a traditional material that ties in with the rest of the house, which embraces local materials to create a simple yet elegant family home.

leopold banchini exposes the concrete structure of casa do monte in lisbon designboom
access to the first floor bedroom space

leopold banchini exposes the concrete structure of casa do monte in lisbon designboom
the first floor central core houses the bed with sliding doors allowing for an enclosed bedroom space

leopold banchini exposes the concrete structure of casa do monte in lisbon designboom

the first floor double height space bathed in light

leopold banchini exposes the concrete structure of casa do monte in lisbon designboom
the second floor living room with views over the lower level

leopold banchini exposes the concrete structure of casa do monte in lisbon designboom

detail of the lower level garden

leopold banchini exposes the concrete structure of casa do monte in lisbon designboom
detail of the rooftop pool surrounding the terrace

leopold banchini exposes the concrete structure of casa do monte in lisbon designboom

the façade openings follow the rhythm of surrounding historical buildings

leopold banchini exposes the concrete structure of casa do monte in lisbon designboom
floor plans of the house

 

 

project info:

 

project name: ‘casa do monte’

location: lisbon, portugal

architects: leopold banchini and daniel zamarbide

 

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: lynne myers | designboom