This is the story of an old winery that has been converted into a contemporary refuge by Matteo Arnone, told in the words of Lúcia Rumor and through the photography of Federico Cairoli. A place where time stands still and inspires contemplation.
Set among the vineyards of Alenquer, forty minutes from Lisbon, stands Quinta do Álamo, a Project undertaken by the designer and architect Matteo Arnone, who has converted an old winery into a contemporary home, reaffirming the philosophy of his studio, Atelier MA: a practice that blends constructive rationality with poetic sensibility, as a way of exploring the tension between permanence and transformation.
The project sprang from an unexpected reunion. ‘During the pandemic, one of the owners – an old friend from my hometown – got in touch with me. He was looking for a space where time moved at a different pace, in harmony with nature,’ recalls Arnone. The couple, both DJ, had just moved to Portugal in search of a quieter life. Their wish was simple: two have two functional spaces – a living area and a bedroom – and, above, two identical recording studios. The simplicity of the brief led the architect to propose a strictly symmetrical composition, comprising na ongoing dialogue between balance and movement.
The floor plan of the house, covering approximately 500 m², is organised into two mirrored volumes, connected by a central axis that structures circulation. On the ground floor we find the living room, kitchen and master bedroom, each opening onto a semicircular patio that extends to the outside and acts as a mediator: these are transitional spaces that allow air and light to flow in, while protecting privacy. Inside, the curved geometries eliminate angles, generating an impression of fluidity and contemplation. ‘The absence of corners creates calm, almost a perception of infinity.