Architectural Cases

Atelier YokYok has unveiled 'Ninho Globo,' a striking land art installation in the serene rural environment of Salvaterra do Extremo, Portugal. This hand-crafted spherical structure, fashioned from indigenous black schist and granite, seamlessly blends with its surroundings. It pays homage to the area's agricultural past, characterized by ancient dry-stone enclosures and shelters. The project stands as a testament to the convergence of natural landscapes, geological formations, and modern artistic expression, deeply rooted in the historical and material essence of the region. Its creation involved a collaborative 'low-tech' approach, bringing together artists and the local community in a shared endeavor.

Situated near the border with Spain, 'Ninho Globo' is embedded in a landscape profoundly shaped by both human activity and natural forces over centuries. From its vantage point, the installation overlooks the Rio Erges plateau, offering panoramic vistas of both Portuguese and Spanish territories. The presence of remnants from historical pig-farming structures, built from granite and mortared stone, further imbues the setting with archaeological and cultural significance. The choice of a spherical form for the installation is a deliberate artistic statement, symbolizing planetary bodies and mineral structures while offering a naturally stable and balanced design. Its imposing size of approximately five meters in diameter suggests permanence, yet a narrow, water-erosion-inspired fissure invites interaction, leading into a hollow interior that evokes a sense of refuge and connection to the earth.

The Spherical Symbolism of Ninho Globo

Atelier YokYok's 'Ninho Globo' transcends mere artistic creation, functioning as a profound commentary on humanity's relationship with its environment. The installation's spherical geometry is not arbitrary; it consciously mirrors celestial bodies and geological formations, embodying both the universality of the planet and the specific mineral composition of the site. This choice also represents a structurally sound and harmonious spatial arrangement, offering a sense of balance and completeness. With a diameter of roughly five meters, the artwork asserts its presence through its considerable mass, yet it is designed to be accessible and inwardly explorable, inviting contemplation within its core. This blend of monumental scale and intimate accessibility challenges perceptions of natural and constructed forms.

A striking feature of the sphere is a narrow, organically shaped opening, reminiscent of water's erosive power over time. This fissure serves as an entrance to the installation's hollow interior, and it subtly highlights the vital role and occasional scarcity of water within the region. The inner space evokes imagery of natural caves or nests, transforming the structure from a mere object into a sanctuary. This interplay between a globe and a nest prompts deeper reflections on scale, utility, and our collective responsibility towards the landscape. It encourages visitors to consider the broader ecological and communal context, making the artwork a focal point for environmental dialogue and shared custodianship.

Community Engagement and Sustainable Construction

The material composition of 'Ninho Globo' deliberately strengthens the bond between architectural design and geological history. The contrasting layers of black schist against the existing granite foundations are a conscious choice, utilizing materials deeply rooted in the traditional architecture of central Portugal. This thoughtful selection underscores the installation's connection to its immediate environment and the region's heritage. The construction methodology championed a 'low-tech' philosophy, emphasizing manual labor and collective participation. This approach saw the artists collaborating closely with local community members, employing rudimentary tools and techniques to assemble the structure directly on site. This hands-on, community-driven process not only reduced environmental impact but also fostered a profound sense of ownership and shared accomplishment.

'Ninho Globo' was developed under the umbrella of 'Landscape Together,' an initiative spearheaded by MAG – Marques de Aguiar and integrated into the Museu Experimenta Paisagem, an open-air museum. This program is dedicated to fostering site-specific artworks that adhere to principles of sustainable design and actively involve local communities. Supported by the European Union's Creative Europe program, 'Landscape Together' united artists, institutions, and community members from various nations, all contributing to cultural, educational, and regional development efforts across rural Portugal. As a lasting legacy of this collaborative spirit and artistic vision, 'Ninho Globo' has been officially inducted into the permanent collection of the Museu Experimenta Paisagem, ensuring its continued presence as a symbol of artistic innovation and communal harmony.

NOA's Berdenesh Hills development in Saranda, Albania, redefines Mediterranean coastal living with its innovative terraced design. This residential and hospitality complex seamlessly integrates into the natural sloped landscape, offering residents breathtaking views of the sea and the distant Greek island of Corfu. The project draws inspiration from the region's rich architectural history, reinterpreting the concept of a fortified settlement into a modern, clustered neighborhood centered around a vibrant piazza. Scheduled to begin construction in 2026, Berdenesh Hills promises a unique blend of heritage and contemporary design, emphasizing harmonious integration with its environment and fostering a strong sense of community.

Integrated Design with Historical Echoes

The Berdenesh Hills project by NOA is ingeniously designed to harmonize with the picturesque Mediterranean coastline of Saranda, Albania. Situated on a sloping site, the development features a series of terraced volumes that gracefully follow the natural contours of the land. This approach not only optimizes the stunning sea views but also minimizes the visual impact of the structures, allowing them to blend effortlessly with the surrounding low hills and scrub vegetation. The architectural philosophy behind Berdenesh Hills is deeply rooted in the historical context of Southern Albania, which is dotted with ancient castles and fortified settlements. These historical structures, often perched on elevated positions, were shaped by both defensive considerations and the challenging terrain. NOA's design creatively reinterprets this legacy, imagining a contemporary 'citadel' that functions as a welcoming, clustered neighborhood rather than an impenetrable fortress. This innovative concept aims to evoke a sense of heritage while providing a modern, open living environment.

The integration of Berdenesh Hills into its unique landscape is a testament to NOA's thoughtful design process. The terraced arrangement ensures that each residence benefits from unobstructed vistas of the Mediterranean Sea, fostering a strong connection between the inhabitants and their natural surroundings. The choice of earthy plaster tones for the facades further enhances this integration, reflecting the colors of the local soil and rock formations. Subtle architectural elements, such as varying building heights and stepped roof planes, create a dynamic visual rhythm that mirrors the topography, making the complex appear as an organic extension of the hillside. The project's layout revolves around a central piazza, envisioned as the social heart of the community. From this shared space, pathways radiate outwards, leading to individual homes and meticulously gardened terraces. Unlike traditional fortified settlements, the perimeter of Berdenesh Hills remains visually permeable, ensuring that residents and visitors can enjoy continuous, expansive views. This design strategy balances the desire for community and shared spaces with the need for privacy within each dwelling, creating a cohesive yet open residential experience that celebrates both history and modernity.

Enriching Community and Private Retreats

The layout of Berdenesh Hills by NOA prioritizes both communal interaction and private tranquility, creating a balanced living experience on the Albanian coast. The development features a vibrant central piazza, designed as the primary social and spatial hub. This main square unfolds across multiple terraced levels, serving as a dynamic area for circulation, gathering, and community events, complete with a small pavilion. From this central point, a network of pathways extends, guiding residents to their homes and private gardened terraces. Complementing the built environment, a Mediterranean park, carefully planted with species resilient to the coastal climate, weaves through the site. These shared outdoor spaces are instrumental in reinforcing a sense of collective life and community spirit, encouraging interaction among residents while meticulously preserving the privacy of individual dwellings. The thoughtful arrangement ensures that residents can enjoy both the vibrancy of communal life and the peaceful seclusion of their personal retreats.

A defining characteristic of Berdenesh Hills is the emphasis on private outdoor space, with each apartment featuring its own terrace designed as a seamless extension of the interior living area. These terraces are strategically widened at the edges of the buildings, transforming into generous exterior rooms that offer spectacular, expansive views of the sea. To ensure an uninterrupted visual connection to the breathtaking surroundings, parapets are designed with a low profile and detailed with slender metal elements. This meticulous attention to detail allows for open sightlines from within the apartments, maximizing the enjoyment of the Mediterranean panorama. The architecture further reinforces this connection to the landscape through its stepped roof planes and varied building heights, which mimic the natural slope of the site. From above, the roofs appear as an articulated surface, blending harmoniously with the hillside, while from below, the terraces accentuate horizontality without overpowering the view. The facades, finished in warm, earthy plaster tones, reflect the natural colors of the soil and rock, enhancing the development's organic integration. Subtle projections and recesses on the surfaces create dynamic interplay of light and shadow throughout the day, effectively reducing the visual mass typically associated with multi-level residential structures and ensuring the complex feels light and connected to its environment.