Pedrógão | House Manuel & Emilia

On the 17th of June 2017, a major wildfire broke out in Pedrógão Grande, and spread through the forest to Figueiró dos Vinhos, Castanheira de Pêra, Sertã, Penela, Góis e Pampilhosa da Serra, affecting 500 houses (259 of which were primary residences). 64 people died trying to escape the fires.

Following the tragedy, citizens and institutions made donations to help the reconstruction of the houses and lives affected by the fires. The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, responsible for one of the largest funds, contracted a Cooperativa Trabalhar com os 99% crl. (Working with the 99%, Coop), to provide technical assistance in the process of reconstruction, in which Ateliermob produced the project of seven houses.

This house was spread on the plot presenting different areas with independent exterior accesses, low living conditions and minimal areas. For this reason, the decision was to demolish all the remaining walls and structure, to give room to a totally new house that would accompany the terrain's slope.

The house is built upon two stories, both with access to the exterior. Its volume, designed in a “U” shape, reveals in the negative space an exterior patio, that leads to the water tank, the house's annex and where a wooden oven is placed, with a view over the mountains. Contrasting with the scenery, the exterior of the house is painted with a terracotta colour.