The urban façade, calm and simple in its unity, features subtle movements expressed through the openings of the spans and the design of the lattice screens in the access cores. Conversely, the coastline façade differs in design and opacity. Despite large openings, it becomes fragmented and draws closer to the sea. This dematerialization is achieved through the façade’s movement and the varying levels between the development and the natural pools.
Matiota V02
Mindelo, Cabo Verde
The proposed object is dematerialized into five independent volumetric bodies, breaking up and lightening the construction’s density in clear respect for the coastline, the environment, and the urban scale of the immediate surroundings. This fragmentation is achieved through the voids created within the construction, where terraces and outdoor spaces of the units emerge. These voids also allow for the creation of privacy between the various units. The interplay between built and empty spaces appears on both fronts of the proposal. On the maritime side, the terraces bring the units closer to the sea, enhancing experiences and the relationship with the landscape. On the urban front, the voids help to soften the building’s mass, making the whole appear as the sum of smaller parts.
- Location Mindelo, Cabo Verde
- Type Commercial and Services
- Year 2021
- Area 5.487 m2
- Status Built
At AGUIAR MAIA, architecture is more than form — it’s an experience. A dialogue between light and space, where design inspires, connects, and embraces the beauty of its surroundings.
The façade’s skin design around the windows creates movement and breaks up the building through an interplay of light and shadow, referencing Le Corbusier’s concept: “Architecture is the learned game, correct and magnificent, of volumes assembled under light.”
