Vale de Moses. Almeira. Portugal.
Project Type: Residential – New Build
Client: Competition
Program: Residential – New Build
Status: Design Development – February 2021
Value: N/A
Area: 27m²
A competition entry for a creative, contextual extension of a yoga retreat set in woodlands surrounds.
The selected site referenced for the competition was situated in Vale de Moses in Almeira, Portugal. Placed on a steep slope in woodlands surrounds and in close proximity to the adjoining yoga retreat.
As per the competition requirements, the directive was to design a residential retreat to compliment the yoga activities of the existing facility in harmony with the natural setting.
Prepared in collaboration with C.Richardson Architect, the architectural response sought to ‘touch the ground lightly’ without ‘scaring the landscape’, while creating a minimalistic sleeping space to complement the yoga retreat.
The foco sleeping pods draw inspiration from the Dolmen da Orca, a 6000 year old monolithic stone structure consisting of a series of blocks and lintels that forms a long dark passageway. This tube-like geometry was developed within the form of the pods to focus the gaze on the natural world, allowing for a deep connection with nature, free from distractions.
The pods would be positioned to face stars or star signs of significance to the yoga retreat, framed on a specific day of the year, with each pod named for that star or constellation. Guests would receive an added layer of experience and connection with the natural world through this special alignment.
Further design elements included:
- The placement of the pods on timber beams, flanked by agricultural screens and clad in naturally weathered timber to ensure a soft integration with the context
- The pods were extruded boxes from the slope, cantilevered to capture the views of the the landscape, free from distractions
- The internal arrangements were flexible and upheld by a clean, timber construction allowing for a meditative experience and opportunities for sleeping and yoga practice.
#Foco #SleepingPod #Collaboration #C.RichardsonArchitect #ResidentialArchitecture #Competition #DesignTime
@UrbanSignature_ @C.RichardsonArchitect
foco – sleeping pods
Vale de Moses. Almeira. Portugal.
Project Type: Residential – New Build
Client: Competition
Program: Residential – New Build
Status: Design Development – February 2021
Value: N/A
Area: 27m²
A competition entry for a creative, contextual extension of a yoga retreat set in woodlands surrounds.
The selected site referenced for the competition was situated in Vale de Moses in Almeira, Portugal. Placed on a steep slope in woodlands surrounds and in close proximity to the adjoining yoga retreat.
As per the competition requirements, the directive was to design a residential retreat to compliment the yoga activities of the existing facility in harmony with the natural setting.
Prepared in collaboration with C.Richardson Architect, the architectural response sought to ‘touch the ground lightly’ without ‘scaring the landscape’, while creating a minimalistic sleeping space to complement the yoga retreat.
The foco sleeping pods draw inspiration from the Dolmen da Orca, a 6000 year old monolithic stone structure consisting of a series of blocks and lintels that forms a long dark passageway. This tube-like geometry was developed within the form of the pods to focus the gaze on the natural world, allowing for a deep connection with nature, free from distractions.
The pods would be positioned to face stars or star signs of significance to the yoga retreat, framed on a specific day of the year, with each pod named for that star or constellation. Guests would receive an added layer of experience and connection with the natural world through this special alignment.
Further design elements included:
- The placement of the pods on timber beams, flanked by agricultural screens and clad in naturally weathered timber to ensure a soft integration with the context
- The pods were extruded boxes from the slope, cantilevered to capture the views of the the landscape, free from distractions
- The internal arrangements were flexible and upheld by a clean, timber construction allowing for a meditative experience and opportunities for sleeping and yoga practice.
#Foco #SleepingPod #Collaboration #C.RichardsonArchitect #ResidentialArchitecture #Competition #DesignTime
@UrbanSignature_ @C.RichardsonArchitect
