Articles by Andreas Luco

This project, located on the coast of Bahia, arose from a unique challenge: a plot situated on the last lot of the street, on a corner, facing the setting sun and challenging winds. For a vibrant family, passionate about the beach and surrounded by friends, it was essential to have a residence that captured their joy and integrated harmoniously with the surrounding nature. Thus, Milcent Architecture had the role of reconciling the challenges of the plot with the needs of the family in the design of the residence.

Amaka is a Condo Hotel project located in the city of Tulum, Quintana Roo. A city surrounded by nature, beautiful beaches, and a rich archaeological history of the Mayan Culture. With a construction area of 1,722.44 m2, Amaka is a project comprised of 18 private condominiums in a building surrounded by open areas that provide natural lighting and ventilation to the building, thus reducing the use of electrical elements.

Zhejiang Lishui Liandu Guyan Huaxiang Ancient Town, named after the 1500-year-old world heritage site “Tongji Canal (Guyan)” and the birthplace of the “Lishui Barbizon School of Painting (Huaxiang),” sits across the water from “Ancient Canal” and “Artistic Village.” This town, nurtured by its ancient charm and the coexistence of modern art, has gradually developed into a unique ecological system integrating art galleries, art education, cultural tourism, and residential life. In 2019, it was honored with the title of “Zhejiang Province’s Third Batch of Provincial-level Characteristic Towns.” In 2020, the local government planned to construct an art center in the core area of the town to meet the growing needs of residents, tourists, artists, and students. This center would serve both as an art exhibition space and a venue for public education. Additionally, it was envisioned to become a significant platform for showcasing the town’s culture and a landmark building in the future.

This project involves the adaptation for residential purposes of a narrow and deep urban plot (5mx20m), which combined the renovation of a pre-existing house and the design of a new construction at the back.

Facing the village of Saint-Emilion, Château Pavie Macquin enjoys an exceptional location. In harmony with its surroundings, the wine estate is nestled in the heart of a meticulously cultivated agricultural landscape shaped by human hands. Perched on a hill, the building extends horizontally, following the contours of the landscape.

The house is situated on a triangular plot with a steep slope along the access street, in the East/West or South/North direction. This has influenced its shape and volume. The construction is positioned at the highest level on the East side, with the house mainly opening to the West. It is distributed over three floors, taking advantage of the slope of the land. Pedestrian and vehicle access are located at different levels through Rua Dr. Domingos da Silva Coelho, utilizing the natural slope of the road and land. The pedestrian access is situated at a higher level on the ground floor, leading to the house entrance through a flap. The car access is located further west at a lower level, leading to a partly covered patio that connects to the garage and service entrance in the basement. The two levels are externally connected through a ramp located to the south or a staircase that connects the ground floor patio, next to the pool, to the basement parking patio.

The client’s request to create a residence for a small family in the context of large-scale properties presented a unique design challenge. This need for scale and volume in the immediate surroundings, together with the steep slope of the land, the geographical orientation, and the presence of a large forest at the back of the plot led to the design and implementation strategy: an elevated basic prism synthesized the solution to meet all the initial premises. The topography of the plot, with its steep slope, offered a unique opportunity to integrate the house into the natural landscape, taking advantage of the views and the edge of the forest that demarcates it to create privacy and a connection with nature. This careful balance between scale, topography, and climate would be essential to create a space that not only meets the needs of the family but also enriches the fabric of the condominium and its relationship with the environment.