The architectural excellence of this home, located in the heart of Costa Nova, Ílhavo, was the starting point for a renovation and expansion project that not only respects the site's history but also enhances its urban presence. The project, by the architect António Figueiredo of Atelier Espaço Objecto, Arquitetura e Design, won the 2025 Ílhavo António Sarrico Municipal Architecture Award, distinguishing itself among the 16 selected works for its remarkable balance between tradition and contemporary design.

The project stemmed from the owner's desire to transform a pre-existing structure, not directly associated with the traditional "palheiros" of Costa Nova, into a four-bedroom single-family home. Facing the iconic Avenida José Estêvão and also bordering Avenida da Bela Vista, the lot was cleverly reorganized, combining the original building with a new architectural volume. The articulation between the two structures proved to be a sophisticated exercise in composition and functionality, where the introduction of pathways, courtyards, and open spaces, such as the vertical garden, the pool, and the ceramic mural by sculptor António Nobre, contribute to a rich and sensory experience of the space.

In this context of high architectural demands, Exporlux played a decisive role in enhancing the project's spatial and material language through an integrated and precise lighting approach. Lighting was not conceived as a mere complement, but as a true design tool, capable of accentuating textures, volumes, and rhythms, from the exterior ceramic panels to the carved wood details crowning the rooftop canopy.

The careful selection of Exporlux's lighting systems allowed for the creation of different atmospheres throughout the architectural design, enhancing the character of the interior and exterior spaces and contributing to the nocturnal interpretation of the house as an extension of the coastal landscape in which it is located. Light acts here as a cohesive element between past and present, between architectural gesture and everyday experience.

The new volume, which reflects the scale and language of the surrounding buildings, particularly through its gabled roof and wood cladding, evokes the collective memory of the "palheiros" and reintegrates the building into Costa Nova's visual identity. By subtly and intentionally illuminating this identity, Exporlux reinforces the role of light as an agent of heritage enhancement and architectural expression.

The distinction awarded by the Municipality of Ílhavo recognizes not only the mastery of the architectural project but also the collaboration between the various stakeholders that made it possible. As Antonio Figueiredo emphasized at the awards ceremony, held at the Ílhavo Maritime Museum, "this work would not have been possible without the dedication of a team that has been with me over the years." Exporlux stands out not only as a supplier of lighting solutions but also as an active partner in the realization of an architecture that aims to be lasting, sensitive, and luminous.

ATELIER ESPAÇO OBJECTO - Arquitetura e Design
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CMI - Câmara Municipal de Ílhavo
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Image Credits:
IVO TAVARES STUDIO
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