Project 057: House in Fontaínhas, Porto by Fala Atelier.

Curiouser and curiouser… is the feeling that ignites when stepping into House in Fontaínhas by Fala Atelier. Back again with their signature pastel colour combinations and playful architectural structure, Fala Atelier’s 57th project in Porto, Portugal is a renovation of an abandoned townhouse. At 255 square metres, this concept-art-like transformation is a symphony of geometries and linear qualities ready to bring a peculiar attitude into everyday spaces.

With only minimal changes made to the external appearance (like the tiny blue ball attached at the roof!) House in Fontaínhas appears as a modest residence stitched into Porto’s architecturally rich landscape. Albeit immediately upon entry, the tight footprint is broken by a curved wall that flows along the length of the space. The lack of apparent constraints provides a new vanishing perspective, creating a sightline that allows the room to ‘dissolve’ into Pomo Landscape’s purposely overgrown grassy garden.

Along the curved wall awaits a series of dark blue doors concealing bathroom or storage. The piano-key like arrangement aligns neatly with the horizontally decked dark and light stained timber floorboards, illuminated by a boxed skylight above. With the rigidity removed by the contrast of the linear floorboards and sculpted wall makes it possible to host a customised kitchen with a slanted splashback and multipurpose area.

Behind the curved wall close to the entrance reveals a staircase to the second floor. Bedrooms, central wet area, and playroom are divided neatly by an almost straight wall that curves into the main wall towards the garden-facing room. Just when curves are not enough, Fala Atelier naturally introduces a statement wall, diagonally splitting the wet area into two bathrooms.

Among the newly formed angular moments, grided tiles found in the kitchen plaster the wall, somehow harmonising the uncanny bathroom. Close to the ceiling, the acute intersections are interrupted by a singular stained timber joist jutting between the walls. Similar timber gestures are carried throughout the second floor, perfect for the occasional cheeky circular pendant light to wrap around and dangle in the tall spaces.

Standing from the garden and looking inwards at the house is where we could appreciate House in Fontaínhas’s whimsical character. White walls are capped with pale blue ceilings, while dark blue defines the door and external geometric rail on the second floor. Fairy-floss pink is painted on an isometric patterned kitchen bench and external column that marks the entrance to the garden. The external grey and white pattern are reflected in the marble lining at the architrave of doorways, bathroom floors, kitchen benchtop and the triangular bathroom counters.

For Fala Atelier’s project to be realised in such a geometric kaleidoscopic charm, anyone would feel like they have wandered into Alice’s Wonderland.

[Images courtesy of Fala Atelier. Photography by Ricardo Loureiro.]