Housing Precedent Analysis

Before the commencement of a housing project it was required to elect a precedent in which a case study would be conducted. The precedent I elected was Quinta de Malagueira in Evora, Portugal by architect Alvaro Siza. This project was elected in order to look into the design strategies Siza employed through out a vast site. The analysis required to investigate the formal concept and massing of the project, part to whole relationships, urban fabric, thresholds and porosity, access and circulation among other analysis. 

Studio: Design Studio 3A: House and Housing
Professor: Anne Zimmerman
Year: Fall 2016

Precedent: Quinta Da Malagueira
Typology: Row Housing
Location: Evora, Portugal
Year: (1977-1998)
Architect: Alvaro Siza

Site Diagram

Formal Concept + Massing

A grid is laid out according to the factors such as
the land, surrounding buildings, and day lighting.

Housing units are placed based on the grid underlay.

Units follow a repetitive pattern to create rows of housing.

Part-Whole Relationships

Alvaro Siza investigated the individual iterations of units that would then allow them to be unified into rows of housing. 

Access + Circulation

By incorporating private courtyards for the units it allowed the circulation to be split between public outdoor circulation and private outdoor access.

Layers of Building Systems

Tying the design to the city of Evora, the use of a modern aqueduct system was used throughout the development to carry the developments utilities. This reflected the classic aqueducts that ran through the city.

Dwelling Patterns