Wave Apartment | arQB arquitectura

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Wave Apartment | arQB arquitectura

Information

  • Completion year: 2023
  • Gross Built up Area: 175m2
  • Project Location: Povoa de Varzim
  • Country: Portugal
  • Lead Architects/Designer: Ricardo Ribeiro, Hugo Andrade
  • Contractors: Lage e Sobral
  • Photo Credits: Ivo Tavares Studio
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Excerpt: Wave Apartment by arQB arquitectura is an interior design project that deals with the challenge of reorganizing and hierarchizing spaces. The refurbishment features an organic “wave” wall that connects the social and intimate areas, separated by furniture and a large circular mirror. This mirror, resembling a boat window, transports exterior views to the interior, enhancing the flow and intuitiveness of the space.

Project Description

Wave Apartment | arQB arquitectura
© Ivo Tavares Studio

[Text as submitted by architect] The “Wave Apartment” project’s main challenge was the reorganization and hierarchization of spaces. Located on the seafront, on the eighth floor of a typical 70s building, and with fantastic views. However, it did not take advantage of this due to the excessive compartmentalization that conveyed a complex environment that was difficult to interpret.

Wave Apartment | arQB arquitectura
© Ivo Tavares Studio

In this way, in the first moment to respond to the program, the designers defined and hierarchized the spaces: arrival area, social area and intimate area. This attitude created some difficulties for them due to the essential technical and structural elements such as pillars and beams, which affected the process.

Wave Apartment | arQB arquitectura
© Ivo Tavares Studio
Wave Apartment | arQB arquitectura
Floor Plan – Before and After © arQB arquitectura
Wave Apartment | arQB arquitectura
© Ivo Tavares Studio

It was then that they created a structuring and fundamental element for this reorganization, an organic “wave” wall that takes one from the social area to the intimate area in a fluid and intuitive way, another fundamental element is the furniture that separates the service area from the social area and houses a large circular mirror that works like a typical boat window. This “window” reflects the ocean and its horizon, transporting the exterior views to the interior of the apartment, namely to the dining area.

Wave Apartment | arQB arquitectura
© Ivo Tavares Studio
Wave Apartment | arQB arquitectura
© Ivo Tavares Studio

All the furniture was designed using the same concepts, transmitting both formal and chromatic coherence, the “ocean” blue color conveys tranquility. As for the materials and following the coherence of the place, the designers opted for microcement throughout the floor in a continuous manner, similar to the sand and beaches there.

Wave Apartment | arQB arquitectura
© Ivo Tavares Studio
Wave Apartment | arQB arquitectura
© Ivo Tavares Studio

In the atrium of the rooms where there is no natural lighting, the designers chose to remove the ovoid ceiling and place indirect lighting there, resulting in a pleasant and natural environment that eliminates the lack of natural light.

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