Habitar PortugalHP

The fact that this apartment – which was purchased by our clients Mathieu and Lucy, an Anglo-French couple that chose Portugal to live in with their children – had the exclusive use of the neighbouring terrace and the roof inspired us to consider the possibility of creating a living and relaxation space on the roof that would also bene t from the magni cent views southwards – of the Castle, Baixa district and river – and northwards – of Parque Eduardo vii.
Taking the example of developments in Asia, particularly in Japan, where there are many notable examples of the roof being seen as a new frontier to be architecturally explored and an opportunity to increase the living space using light and autonomous structures, we created
a structure that is both hybrid and totally unfettered by the existing architectural lexicon, using the tree house as a reference.
Wood proved to be the material that was best suited to the design goals, both for its technical properties and weight and for the characteristics of a reversible, ecological construction that we wished to showcase.

The structure is integrated into the roof terrace autonomously, seeking its own space and de ning the north-south relationship as it establishes spatial hierarchy levels.