Zurcatnas Office | Paulo Santa Cruz

Zurcatnas Atelier is located in a historical building situated in Oporto downtown. It was an office of 55m2 that has been restored and turned into a studio of architecture of the own author. The project began after two years of searching for a space that corresponded to the desired expectations, namely in terms of location, relationship with the outside space, area and solar orientation. Despite being a small space, it would have to accommodate all the work and support areas inherent to its new role. It has been developed the coexistence of six distinct moments of occupation: a toilet, a small kitchen, a storage area, a meeting room, a technical area of printing and cutting and a work area appear successive over a corridor that organizes them from the entrance to the windows of access to the outside balcony. One of the characteristics of the spatial organization of the studio relates to the disposition of spaces depending on the type and duration of its use, approaching of the front door the ones with more ephemeral and common use, releasing to the opposite direction, near the exterior windows, the one with a more permanent use and with greater need for privacy and light. Given the specific characteristics of the different areas of occupation, it was decided to imbed in one volume the three support areas. The remaining three work areas were placed in open space, allowing a greater flow of light and communication between them. In order to strengthen the unity between the production areas two transversal elements were created, a bookcase and a continuous profile of light linking the three spaces on a production line. The inside of the studio assumes a markedly white tone, as if it was a new sheet of paper, like it is also new the activity of the studio that will be filled with stories and colors to its limit. By then it will be time to turn the page and look for a new space to tell a new story.