The architect Paulo H. Durao’s house in Moreira
The house that Paulo H. Durao built in Moreira is a gem- a house where time stands
still.
still.
Heidegger writes that for Aristotle “being” signifies “presence”, present. And following
on from this concept of being, the future is that “not-yet-being” while the past is that “no-
longer-being”.
This quite radical house in Moreira by Paulo H. Durao is a house of present, past and
future. A house so radically beautiful that it is timeless, beyond time, capable of
detaining time.
There are houses, works whose spectacular characteristics immediately situate them
in the history of architects. They cause such a sensation that with the relentless
passage of time they soon become obsolete. Will-o'-the-wisps, one-day wonders.
Then there are other houses, other works that pass into the History of Architecture for
their rigor and depth, their truth and beauty. They are favored by the passage of time
and remain in the memory of the people. Like this house in Moreira.
EXTRACTION MECHANISMS
The house, mysterious and hermetic, appears before us like an impressive closed
drawer of reinforced concrete. It looks like the embodiment of the advice given by
Berthold Lubetkin, the great Russian architect, who at the end of his life said that he
had made nothing more than concrete shoe-boxes.
drawer of reinforced concrete. It looks like the embodiment of the advice given by
Berthold Lubetkin, the great Russian architect, who at the end of his life said that he
had made nothing more than concrete shoe-boxes.
Demonstrating great wisdom with this box, Paulo H. Durao has excavated the precise
incisions for light and air to enter in such a way that the space inside from the
excavation of the northeast corner to create the entrance, to the two fissures, like
patios, on the east façade, is quite taut.
incisions for light and air to enter in such a way that the space inside from the
excavation of the northeast corner to create the entrance, to the two fissures, like
patios, on the east façade, is quite taut.
And once the openings through which light penetrates and crosses the architectural
instrument have been pierced, the architects looks for and finds the mechanisms with
which this light makes the interior spaces of this box play like a musical instrument. And
when the light pours in, the box is converted into a “boîte à miracles”, as proposed by
Le Corbusier.
instrument have been pierced, the architects looks for and finds the mechanisms with
which this light makes the interior spaces of this box play like a musical instrument. And
when the light pours in, the box is converted into a “boîte à miracles”, as proposed by
Le Corbusier.
FINE-TUNING MECHANISMS
Here the architect carried out exercises of proportion and disproportion, combining
compressed horizontal spaces with double-height vertical spaces conveniently crossed
by light, to produce effective diagonal spatial effects.
compressed horizontal spaces with double-height vertical spaces conveniently crossed
by light, to produce effective diagonal spatial effects.
SERVANTS, SERVED
The canonical floor-plan is impeccable. The band of servant elements to one side at
the back leaves the more ample served spaces to the other side, opening onto the
garden via the openings in the box, the patios. The house is so well proportioned that
although small, it appears large.
the back leaves the more ample served spaces to the other side, opening onto the
garden via the openings in the box, the patios. The house is so well proportioned that
although small, it appears large.
PREFACES
This is the third house after those in Pedrogao and Liteiros that Paulo H. Durao has
built. And while the previous two are splendid, this is perhaps the most radical: a
mature, masterly work, which puts the quality of the architect to the test and summarizes
so well the ideas of its author on architecture. A house that achieves its desired aim of
making time stand still.
built. And while the previous two are splendid, this is perhaps the most radical: a
mature, masterly work, which puts the quality of the architect to the test and summarizes
so well the ideas of its author on architecture. A house that achieves its desired aim of
making time stand still.
TIME
The architect, Paulo H. Durao, is about to present his doctoral thesis on Time in
Architecture at the UPM in Madrid, where he spent many years as professor in the
Architectural Projects Department. And this house can be seen as a logical
consequence of his doctoral thesis. As the materialization of many of the themes he
analyzes around Time in artistic creation.
Architecture at the UPM in Madrid, where he spent many years as professor in the
Architectural Projects Department. And this house can be seen as a logical
consequence of his doctoral thesis. As the materialization of many of the themes he
analyzes around Time in artistic creation.
Once again we are faced here with Architecture that springs from truth and is
developed with truth, and at whose hand beauty is achieved, as Plato proposed:
Beauty as the splendor of Truth, the dream of every creator. Radical beauty in this
radical house built in Moreira by Paulo H. Durao.
developed with truth, and at whose hand beauty is achieved, as Plato proposed:
Beauty as the splendor of Truth, the dream of every creator. Radical beauty in this
radical house built in Moreira by Paulo H. Durao.
Clients: Married couple with two children, one boy and one girl.
Site: Moreira, Maia, Portugal - 486 m² of schist and sands type soil, long and thin, in a
developing suburb area, surrounded by old and new constructions, mainly housing with
different scales, there is some agriculture presence.
Floor areas
First floor (Gross area): 132,50 m². Ground floor (Gross area): 139,00 m². Underground
floor (Gross area): 87,00 m².
Main bedroom with wc: 32,00 m². Boy bedroom with wc: 20,50 m². Girl bedroom with
wc: 23,50 m². Play area: 8,00 m².
Kitchen: 27,00 m². Living room: 40,00 m². Office with wc: 16,6 m².
Service wc and Laundering room: 8,00 m². Garage and Storage: 42 m².
Total circulation: 43,00 m². Garden: 286,50 m².
Exterior Patios: 37,50 m². Total area: 358,50 m².
Car parking: 2 places underground, 3 places in the street.
Structure
in situ poured Concrete solid “box”, insulation between the concrete structure and the
interior brick wall, resulting in a 40cm exterior wall.
Finishes
Externally, the concrete is apparent with a varnish finishing, stainless steel protections,
and natural aluminum windows. Internally, white-painted pladur, with natural wood on the
doors and baseboards. First floor with natural wood on the ground, except in the water
areas which are marble, as is the whole ground floor. Staircase has marble between
the underground and
ground floor and natural wood to de first floor, sustained by 1 cm tick solid steel rods
painted in white, as all the steel in the interior.
Mechanical: Solar powered, heated floor.
2007 – 2011
Authors – Phyd Arquitectura
Paulo Henrique Durão João Ricardo Dias Daniel Gil Tomé
Collaboration Jennifer Duarte Miguel Àguas
Structure
Eng. Pedro Fragoso Viegas
Photography
Javier Callejas
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