Coastal Windmill Reinvented as a Surreal Guest Accommodation, Mirroring the Majestic Atlantic Shoreline
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The AIP House Azóia, located at Cape Roca, Portugal, is a unique example of adaptive reuse, transforming a weathered windmill and its adjacent structures into a surreal guesthouse by João Tiago Aguiar Arquitectos. The design pays homage to its coastal environment by reflecting the rhythm and colours of the Atlantic Ocean and the cliffs of Cape Roca.
The exterior palette of glossy green tiles and terracotta-toned render visually echoes the surrounding natural environment and the Atlantic coast. The green tiles mirror the verdant coastal landscape, while the terracotta hues resonate with the earth and cliff tones, creating a harmonious link between built form and nature.
The architects have embraced the windmill's quirks, turning them into its greatest assets. The home, spanning 740 square meters, feels like an architectural illusion, existing and vanishing simultaneously. The central glass volume performs an elegant disappearing trick, mirroring the sky on certain afternoons.
The home's terracotta render feels warm to the touch, connecting it to the red earth beneath. The glossy green tiles serve as ceramic armor against salt spray, standing the test of time and the harsh coastal conditions.
The transformation of the windmill and its three companion structures ensures they breathe with the Atlantic rhythm. The interior design flows naturally from room to room, following the windmill's original logic, creating a seamless flow throughout the guesthouse.
The AIP House Azóia is a testament to the beauty of adaptive reuse, demonstrating how a historic coastal windmill can be transformed into a modern architectural masterpiece that harmonises with its surroundings.
[1] ArchDaily. (2021). AIP House Azóia. [online] Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/967101/aip-house-az-ia
[2] Dezeen. (2021). AIP House Azóia by João Tiago Aguiar Arquitectos. [online] Available at: https://www.dezeen.com/2021/05/27/aip-house-az-ia-joao-tiago-aguiar-arquitectos-portugal-windmill-guesthouse/
[3] Architizer. (2021). AIP House Azóia. [online] Available at: https://architizer.com/projects/aip-house-az-ia/
[4] Design Boom. (2021). AIP House Azóia by João Tiago Aguiar Arquitectos. [online] Available at: https://www.designboom.com/architecture/aip-house-az-ia-joao-tiago-aguiar-arquitectos-portugal-05-2021/
- As the AIP House Azóia seamlessly integrates with its coastal environment, it serves as an inspirational architectural event, showcasing how a lifestyle transformation can harmonize with home-and-garden settings, particularly in the context of adaptive reuse.
- The AIP House Azóia, with its unique blend of the old and the new, offers a captivating lifestyle experience that transcends conventional home-and-garden norms, offering guests an immersive event where history and nature meet in perfect syncopation.
