The design of the “Dona Antonia” housing development is part of a public infrastructure construction operation for the creation of 46 lots for single family homes.
The area of intervention is of about eight hectares of sloping hillside, forming part of the basement to the mountain called “Frio” in the limit of the urban area of Braga.

STRENGTHS:

– INTEGRATION:
a) Infra-structures adaptation to the existing topography.
– MATERIALS:
a) strong limitation of the embodied energy of materials.
b) use of local materials (granite stone) and adapted application techniques;
c) maintenance minimization.
– WATER MANAGEMENT:
a) integration of existing water resources;
b) soil permeability, street pavement in elements + infiltration areas;
c) maintenance and enhancement of vegetation.
– ECOSYSTEM:
a) Analysis and reinforcement of biodiversity.

1996 – Construction year

Awards:

2001 – Honourable mention for “Stone in Architecture”
2000-2002 – Selected for “Habitar Portugal”
2004 – Finalist of the “4th Ibero-American Biennial of Architecture”
2005 – Special mention of the jury for “Urban Solutions” Spanish Architects Association CSCAE