226 Fonte

In the invitation we received to develop the proposal for Casa Fonte, in Melides, we were surprised by the request to consider two main references: the traditional Alentejo house and Lina Bo Bardi’s Glass House.
The Alentejo house is, by its very nature, built in rammed earth, made from the land itself and is therefore material and compact. It features small, scarce openings, protecting itself from both the cold and the heat. By contrast, Lina Bo Bardi’s Glass House is light, made of glass, almost immaterial. It floats above Morumbi, completely open, cheerful, and fearless in the face of the elements.

This contrast struck us as intriguing. We embraced this apparent contradiction as a challenge, not only because both are significant references, but also because they are recurring presences in the kind of architecture JAA seeks to create.
What synthesis could we propose in response to such a complex provocation?

When we first visited the site, we encountered a water spring, which gives the place its name. We then went to the location chosen for the house. At that moment, we understood that the clients’ vision was both sensible and poetic.

The house would have to belong unmistakably to that place as if it emerged from the very matter and soil from which it is made and, at the same time, it should open with optimism to the Atlantic landscape of mountains and sea.

Despite their apparent differences, both reference houses share several qualities. They are simple yet sophisticated, free from superfluous luxury, welcoming, and generous. They seek a harmonious relationship with their natural surroundings and aspire to offer both residents and guests moments of beauty. The landscape is the true protagonist.

Access to Casa Fonte is from above, where the house is almost invisible. One then descends into a courtyard built around a water tank, paying homage to its name. From this courtyard the heart of the home, offering moments of intimacy the house opens out to the vast horizon of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean.