Mindelo | Heim Balp Architekten

Located in the historic district of Sao Vicente’s capital, Mindelo, a mixed-use building holds artistic and social subtexts in its form, and recognizes the variety and needs of its neighboorhood.
The complex is composed of a housing division and a tower unit, which connects its
floors. The main component contains a cafe, an office, and residential units.
The tower is set with wooden paneling, and therefore open to wind blowing
gently in from the street. The streetside facade is clad with a three-dimensional, wooden filter.
The boxes composing the filter are cut to the golden ratio, and take
inspiration from Joseph Albers To monte Alban (1942). The rear facade, fixed with cascaded
terraces, reminds of the farming landscape in the nearby San Antao
Island mountains. Each terrace holds pots of whispering wheat and maize that provide privacy for its residence. Once a year, flood-like rainfall will cascade down these terraces to the garden. Here it is collected in a cisterne to grow plants in drier times. In a sign of respect to its clients of German origin, a kitchen will be installed in the garden, with an oven from which to produce bread.