House in Casalinho da Ajuda | Vasco Lima Mayer

This house has a presence that is felt, because it is provocative in a good way. It is located in the Casalinho da Ajuda neighbourhood, an area that still preserves Lisbon's parochial life. The façade of the house also refers to a pre-existence that we chose to highlight: The previous house was a ruin that was demolished, however the façade has been maintained. Where there used to be a wall between two spans, the entrance door now opens, making the experience improbable right from the start.

The construction is made in height, with four floors joined by a staircase that is an object in itself, traced with straight and curved lines, and that serves its function in a fluid way.

Upon entering, on the ground floor, we are in the living room and kitchen area, an open and spacious space, designed to be experienced as a common room, creating a comfortable environment. By sliding the windows, we have access to a covered balcony, facing south, through which sunlight enters most of the day, and from where you can contemplate the view of the tapada da Ajuda.

On the -1 floor, two cosy rooms open onto a private terrace with a small garden whose green plants fill the rooms with nature. Here, you can feel a peace that makes you forget the rest of the world. A bathroom designed within the same concept of simplicity, offers the rooms a certain independence.

On the 1st floor, the workplace is set up, a spacious atelier, also with a balcony and an unobstructed view. Solid wood furniture and brownish tones make this space the ideal place for creation.

Going up to the attic, there is a corner with a sloping ceiling and a window in the middle. This is definitely a different place. Designed to be the main suite of the house with a double bed in the center, it allows you to watch an unparalleled show when you open the window to see the stars in the night sky, or feel the sun in the morning.

Conceived as a whole, from the architecture to the furniture, this work is a game of balance between the materials used, the volume of the spaces, the sobriety of the tones and the traditionality of the neighbourhood where it is located. Perhaps this is why, and because it is a project that focuses on everything that is not obvious, that experiencing this house is something that is both pleasant and unforgettable at the same time.

Location: Casalinho da Ajuda, Lisboa
Area: 168,62 m²
Start: 2018
Conclusion: 2021

Architects: Vasco Lima Mayer; Sara Oom de Sousa
Engineers: Francisco Lima Mayer; Graucelsius
Landscape: PEV Arquitectura Paisagista
Construction: Gogil
Photography: Alex Bogorodskiy (@photoshootportugal)