Articles by Andreas Luco

Surrounded by adjacent building walls in a succession of narrow, low-lying plots in the old working-class neighbourhood of Foios stands a house that seeks to revive the heritage of traditional residential architecture in the surrounding area. In its height, shape and choice of materials, it blends harmoniously with the neighbouring houses without being obtrusive. The design concept of this house emphasises privacy, light and space in order to utilise the living area along its entire length and to make the most of the potential of the plot. The interior design defines the space and cleverly leads through the different rooms without touching the ceiling level. A staircase placed in a room lit from above structures the central area and connects the different levels of the house. An inner courtyard separates the building from its neighbour and floods the house with daylight.

In the design, we not only consider the comfort of the householder, but also respond to the needs of the village. By designing small pockets, cat nests, bird nests and windows facing the street, we create an open and private environment. Despite the high requirements for wiring, we actively respond to the demand of public space, improve space utilization, enhance neighborhood interaction, and make villagers feel a sense of belonging.

The CITIC Pacific Plaza is located in the heart of the Nanjing West Road commercial district in Shanghai. Above CITIC Pacific Plaza, there are two office towers, and a key target for the mall’s transformation is to attract white-collar workers during their lunch breaks and after-work gatherings. Combining dining and art, the space aims to provide office workers with an environment for midday rest and refreshment during the workweek. The Zhang Yu Gallery’s entry into the mall is an experimental collaboration between the artist Zhang Yu and CITIC Pacific. Unlike typical retail spaces, the gallery serves as a public exhibition space for the artist, strongly reflecting his personal artistic identity.

The residence unfolds along a linear courtyard, with its defining feature, a striking pool that takes center stage between the main house and a timber-clad pavilion. This pool not only serves as a visual anchor but also creates a serene and reflective space, enhancing the home’s connection with landscape. The layout encourages a seamless indoor-outdoor flow, where the house and the landscape blur into one cohesive environment. Approach to the residence is carefully orchestrated across a series of staggered floating walls, which both conceal and reveal the house as one moves through the drop off space. These walls, along with well-considered landscaping, provide a buffer between the driveway and the more intimate areas of the home.

The first home of a couple, Apartment 114S received a renovation project signed by the Brasília office BLOCO Arquitetos, founded by partners Daniel Mangabeira, Henrique Coutinho, and Matheus Seco. The residents’ goal was to transform the apartment into a gathering place for family and friends. With this premise, the three-bedroom property was completely remodeled, creating a large social area with only one suite for the couple. Located in Superquadra 114 in Asa Sul, Brasília, the apartment had its social area expanded, and the kitchen integrated into the living room.

The main problem with the plot is that it only has a narrow façade in relation to its depth: approximately 5 x 19 metres. On the other hand, the different heights of the adjoining buildings made it obligatory to conduct a meticulous study of the resulting volume to introduce natural light and try to achieve natural ventilation in all the main rooms of the dwelling. 

Architecture immersed in the landscape, an architectural approach that harmoniously integrates with the natural environment, respecting and utilizing the characteristics of the terrain to define its form and layout.