Construction of two houses on an island in the Atlantic

Construction of two semi-detached houses on the island of Sao Nicolau (Cape Verde) for two diving enthusiasts who wish to build a practical and comfortable second home for enjoying this island during long stays.

The island of Sao Nicolau is one of Cape Verde’s 10 volcanic islands, located off the coast of Senegal and is the westernmost point of continental Africa.

It is a small, mountainous island with poor logistical connections. This is why efforts are focused on trying to build the houses using as many local resources and materials as possible, while taking into account the predominant wind conditions in the area, as well as the salty sea air.

Thus, in our first visit to the island, we discovered a factory of concrete blocks of varying shapes and sizes, which together with the local stone make up a large part of the structure and masonry of the houses.

The plot on which the houses are built offers nearby sea views. On the ground level, the houses are offset, as if they were trying to turn their backs on each other, which is a desired effect for reasons of privacy.

The project aims to optimise the sea views from most of the rooms of these two houses, so that the vertical section is fragmented through the use of split levels to ensure that the rooms at the rear of the house can also enjoy these marvellous views.