The property features an old summer house, a belvedere, and a porch inserted in a large and interesting garden, whose characteristics needed to be maintained and qualified.

The proposed architectural solution materializes in a built structure that relates to the surrounding landscape, in a perspective of integration as a whole. The house’s implantation takes advantage of the sun exposure, which provides adequate natural lighting to the interior spaces, especially in social living areas, enhancing unique views of the garden. In order to reinforce the idea of privacy, pedestrian and vehicular accesses to the property are located near the southern limit, bordering the regional road.

Regarding the volumetric composition, the house is implanted on a flat base at ground level along a longitudinal axis parallel to the length of the property, only intersected by a plane resting on the proposed volume to create an outdoor living area, minimizing the volumetric impact of the proposed construction.

The organization of the interior spaces follows a sequential functional logic through an ordered path that develops longitudinally along the property, starting with the parking area and technical areas near the entrance to the property, moving to a storage and laundry area, followed by the kitchen, social bathroom, common room, two bedrooms, a bathroom, and finally, a suite with a closet, a bedroom, and a bathroom.

The development consists of 9 accommodation units, distributed in a property from the end of the 19th century, inserted in the urban fabric of the city of Ponta Delgada, complemented by the comfort of an area of common equipment, in which the exhibition area stands out under the guidance of art by Fonseca Macedo – Contemporary Art.

The property has two street fronts, one for Rua Dr. Guilherme Poças Falcão and another for Rua da Boavista. The integration of the existing building on Rua Dr. Guilherme Poças Falcão is created through a new interior spatial organization, according to the required program, and through the recovery of the exterior walls, balcony and arches of the rear façade, which seek a balance between what exists and the associated spatial constraints. Meanwhile, the building facing Rua da Boavista was completely demolished, in order to allow the introduction of a new structure that will provide for the construction of a parking area and technical support areas.

The maintenance of the inner courtyard serves as an aggregator point for the entire building, forming part of the exhibition area where the intervention of the artist Maria Ana Vasco Costa creates a unique and sensorial experience of the space.

The main entrance to the tourist resort is projected from Rua Dr. Guilherme Poças Falcão for a reception space with a connection to the exhibition area, which articulates with the concept of disseminating contemporary art with tourism. Thus, on floor 0, the entrance with reception comprises a service area, living room, office, luggage storage, support pantry and art exhibition area. Access to the garage, on the same floor, is made from Rua da Boavista, with capacity for 3 vehicles, being a place for the use of disabled people. On this floor there is also a general storage room, toilet facilities for users, changing rooms and toilet facilities for employees, cleaning storage and a garbage area.

On the upper floors are the accommodation units, a pantry per floor, gym and spa consisting of men’s and women’s changing rooms, technical area, sauna, Scottish shower, Turkish bath, solarium and swimming pool for adults and swimming pool for children.

The study was developed according to a contemporary architectural philosophy, based on a functional program that aims to create the necessary conditions to provide an experience adjusted to everyday requirements. According to the work methodology, a prior analysis was carried out to recognize the general characteristics of the land to be intervened and its surroundings, in order to propose an adequate solution to the potentialities of the same.

The land is characterized by a gently sloping and regular slope towards the west quadrant, where several clusters of volcanic rock are based, which strongly characterize the place where an intervention is inserted. We also intend to emphasize the perimeter walls of the land, sinuous and with a strong contrast between the gray and black of the volcanic rock.

A dematerialized volumetric design was adopted, consisting of a set of pure volumes and dry stone walls interconnected by a horizontal plane. Through its linearity and purity, it was intended to intervene in the territory, praising its characteristics, namely its morphological irregularity guided by rocky outcrops. The proposal follows a longitudinal axis parallel to the length of the property only intersected by an outdoor living area with a swimming pool, minimizing the volumetric impact of the construction.

It was intended to materialize a construction that would relate to the surrounding landscape, from a perspective of overall integration, reinforcing the idea of ​​continuity between the interior space and a surrounding green area outside. Taking advantage of the sun exposure, the implantation of the house provides an interior-exterior relationship that allows good natural lighting of the interior spaces, namely in the social areas and takes advantage of the unique views over the surrounding land.

Regarding the external arrangements, it was decided to create routes using volcanic gravel, maintaining the existing tree species.