BackCase Study
Sustainable housing with luxury finishes
Sua Kay Arquitectos
Location
Vau, Óbidos (Portugal)
Material
Dekton | Silestone
Application
Flooring, wall cladding and worktops
Thickness
8 mm | 20 mm
Architecture/Design
Sua Kay Arquitectos
Color
Kira, Opera, Kelya | Cemento Spa, Coral Clay
End date
2021
Quantity
3,444 sq. ft.
A five-star resort surrounded by sand dunes interspersed with coastal vegetation and an exclusive view over the Atlantic Ocean and the Óbidos lagoon. That is West Cliffs, a hotel, golf course and residential complex all in one, located in one of the most unexplored and exclusive areas of Portugal, the Silver Coast.
Located just one hour from Lisbon airport and yet in a natural setting, the complex has been designed to ensure balance between the built and natural environment. As such, its design concept is completely in harmony with the patterns of nature, which, according to its developers, functions almost as a natural extension of the unique landscape of this region.
The architectural firm Sua Kay, led by the renowned Mario Sua Kay (who has designed major projects for shopping centres, banks, stadiums and high-tech industrial complexes), was responsible for the design of the innovative houses for the West Cliffs project. Each house has its own style, halfway between pure contemporaneity, with glass claddings and cubic shapes, and a sort of new Portuguese tradition, with façades featuring local stone and shapes reminiscent of the typical houses of Óbidos.
Sustainability and high durability, key features for the masterminds behind the project
If there is one thing the whole complex has in common, it is the highest certification in terms of sustainability. In fact, Sua Kay believes that this aspect should go further, revolving around not only energy efficiency, but also the quality of the construction and the materials used. “It gives me great pleasure to return to the buildings I built more than twenty years ago and find them in the same condition in which they were delivered to the client”, he says.
All this has led the studio to choose Dekton and Silestone (carbon neutral products throughout their life cycle with a 25-year warranty) for this project, as we will see in one of its most recently completed homes, which we will explore below.
The beauty and size of the pieces, key to the choice of Dekton and Silestone
“There are several reasons why we chose to use Dekton for this project. Among them are the beauty and size of the pieces, which create unique spaces. This is the case, for example, with the master suite, which features a bathtub, shower and sauna and which we wanted to convey a spa-like feel”.
According to the studio, this was achieved thanks to the large Dekton Kira slabs, which were used for the floor, walls and shower. Inspired by natural stone, Dekton Kira is reminiscent of Gris Pulpis for its elegance and versatility. This colour features a background in earth tones crossed by delicate light grey veins running naturally across the surface. All this, combined with its soft matt texture, gives it a timeless feel.
For the washbasin, the studio chose Silestone’s Ariel model in Coral Clay, a colour reminiscent of cappuccino cream. “In this way we created a unique look, which combines with the wood used for the roof and the glass of the façade, which overlooks a private courtyard, contributing to a calm and relaxing atmosphere”, the studio says.
A range of colours perfect to achieve groundbreaking visual effects
“The same concept was used for the other sanitary rooms, but as they were less spacious, Dekton Opera was used to ‘enlarge’ them”, the studio further says. In this case, they allude to the refined colour inspired by the elegant Italian Carrara marble. Its creamy white background is crossed by a simple light grey veining that adds depth and character, while its classic finish offers a sensationally soft and velvety feel.
The Marie washbasin was used in another bathroom. The colour chosen was Silestone Cemento Spa, a dark grey that gives an industrial, modern and innovative touch by emulating the finish, tone and roughness of cement. This provides a relaxing and innovative contrast with the wooden furniture, creating an elegant and exclusive atmosphere throughout the house.
Last but not least, for the kitchen, the studio took up the idea of contrast with wood and chose Dekton Radium for the island, worktops and claddings. “We wanted a stronger colour palette, contrasting with the cabinets and the roughness of the stone. The durability of Dekton in everyday kitchen use was decisive in our choice, as it ensured that it would not scratch or stain with normal use”, the studio concludes.
