Apartment on a mint floor, Located on the piano nobile of a modernist housing block, Apartment on a mint floor | Fala faced a reclaimed terrace; the interiors were reconfigured with little empathy towards the original plan.
© Ricardo Loureiro
A convoluted main space, on the edge of fragmentation, spans from façade to façade. It incorporates a living and dining area, an almost-separated kitchen and the possibility of an additional bedroom. The main bedroom and both bathrooms are concealed behind a simple circular wall. The amount of walls is kept to a minimum, their layout is strategic.
© Ricardo Loureiro
The project operates through a set of gentle oppositions between existing and added elements. The circular wall counteracts the complexity of the vertical circulations of the building. The humble interior finishes underline the presence of the various fixtures and structural elements. Monumental wood doors suggest different degrees of privacy and a patterned kitchen lazes in the abundant sunlight.
© Ricardo Loureiro
The new façade facing the terrace, generously open, hints at the modernism of the street façade and, in doing so, finds a contrast with its direct context. The mint green floor firmly bounds all spaces together despite the irresolute hierarchy of the plan.
Project Info
Architects: Fala
Area: 2045 ft²
Year: 2019
Country: Porto, Portugal
Photographs: Ricardo Loureiro
Manufacturers: BRUMA, Cortizo, Efapel, JNF
Project Team: filipe magalhães, ana luisa soares, ahmed belkhodja, costanza favero, lera samovich, joana sendas, paulo sousa
Contractor: engilaco lda
Madeline Brooks is a Projects Editor at Arch2O, where she has been shaping and refining architectural content since March 2024. With over a decade of experience in editorial work, she has curated, revised, and published an array of projects covering architecture, urbanism, and public space design. A graduate of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Madeline brings a strong academic foundation and a discerning editorial eye to each piece she oversees. Since joining Arch2O, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the platform’s editorial direction, with a focus on sustainability, social relevance, and cutting-edge design. Madeline excels at translating complex architectural ideas into clear, engaging stories that resonate with both industry professionals and general readers. She works closely with architects, designers, and global contributors to ensure every project is presented with clarity, depth, and compelling visual narrative. Her editorial leadership continues to elevate Arch2O’s role in global architectural dialogue.