Concebida para um casal alemão, a Schmithausen House foi o primeiro projecto independente da Gummavitta. Com uma localização idílica, e uma vista magnífica sobre o oceano algarvio, o projecto consistia na concepção de uma moradia de dois quartos, com aproximadamente 120 m2. Das premissas básicas do projecto encontravam-se a vontade de recuperar o possível de uma estrutura existente, e o desejo de potenciar o relação com o panorama magnífico.

Em 2004, um incêndio de enormes proporções lavrou toda aquela encosta da Serra de Monchique. Junto à casa existe uma oliveira que sobreviveu à catástrofe. Esta serviu de ponto zero do projecto. Um renascimento das cinzas, onde a utilização de materiais existentes e o respeito pela natureza serviram de mote.

A composição proposta baseia-se no equilíbrio entre o corpo horizontal, onde a linguagem tradicional é reinterpretada, e o corpo elevado, em rotação, sublinhando a relação que pretende estabelecer com a paisagem dominante, materializado numa linguagem pura e contemporânea.

Designed for a German couple, the Schmithausen House was Gummavitta’s first freelance project. On an idyllic setting, with magnificent views over the Algarve Sea, the project consisted on a double bedroom house of about 120 m2. The basic premises were the will to reuse as much as possible an existing structure, and the desire to make the most of the tremendous panorama that dominates the site.

In 2004, a terrible fire devastated most of the Serra de Monchique’s green landscape. Next to the existing house, an Olive Tree survived the catastrophe. It became the conceptual starting point for the house, as it seemed to represent the rebirth from the ashes. A sheer will to live. The recycling of materials and the respect for the environment became the resolution.

The proposed composition is based on a balance between the horizontal body, where the traditional language is reinterpreted, and the elevated body, rotated to emphasized the intention to explore the dominant view to the landscape, and materialized in a pure contemporary language.

Localização - Location

Implantação - Site plan

Planta piso superior - Upper level plan

Alçado Nascente - East elevation

Alçado Poente - West elevation

Trip and Journey. Here’s a couple of words so easily confused. I love to travel, as in «going on a trip», but I only return totally fulfilled if the trip becomes a journey. And sometimes, I don’t even need to go on a trip to start a journey. Sometimes the journey is within myself, which of course is a much cheaper way to travel…
A journey can also be a great book. And there is no book I’d rather read than a good story about a trip that became a journey! Sepulveda does it magically. Kerouak made a classic out of his memories on the road… When you meet the people and you feel the beat and you enjoy the move and you breathe the air and you smell the street and you talk the jive and you show no fear of showing your fears, then you are there, way over there, on the edge of a journey! Usually, when you return, all your friends ask you about your trip. Keep an eye on those who ask you about your journey. Keep them close…