# Housing Block Defensive Facades Bureau des Mésarchitecture Creates Gold Aluminum Shutters By Amy Duong | Published 2024-09-30 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bureau-des-mesarchitecture References: [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/2024/09/29/housing-bureau-des-mesarchitecture-leiria-portugal/)  Architecture firm [Bureau des Mésarchitecture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/uxbridge-bower) has completed an apartment block that is defined by its facade. The structure is wrapped in concrete and [gold aluminum shutters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/golde-house) which are applied as a form of defense. The block is located in Leiria, Portugal along a corner site. There are five apartments that connect to a 20th-century home that has been renovated and concerted into two more apartments. The founder of the studio, Didier Fiúza Faustino shares the design process to [Dezeen](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/house-in-aoyama), "The site is at the articulation of two neighbourhoods with different urban fabric – the old part of the city with one to two storeys buildings and a new area, under development, with 4 storeys or more buildings. There were two main ideas for the project: designing a housing building with a defensive facade and a soft interior, designing a facade that can be totally closed or totally open. The concept can be resumed in two words: protect and care." Image Credit: Francisco Nogueir ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.2/10 - Popularity: 6% | Activity: 2% | Freshness: 28% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Defensive Architecture:** The use of gold aluminum shutters as a protective façade material signifies a rising trend in defensive architecture, merging security with aesthetics. - **Adaptive Use of Historical Buildings:** Transforming a renovated 20th-century home into modern apartments highlights a trend of adaptive reuse in urban development, preserving historical structures while accommodating new residential needs. - **Modular Facades:** Designing facades that can be completely closed or open reflects a trend towards modular, flexible building components that enhance functionality and security. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Real Estate Development:** The integration of adaptive and defensive architectural elements indicates innovative shifts in urban residential project designs. - **Construction Materials:** The application of concrete and gold aluminum in building façades emphasizes an emerging preference for durable, aesthetically versatile materials. - **Historical Renovation:** Converting historical homes into modern living spaces showcases significant advancements in the industry of preserving cultural heritage through contemporary renovation techniques. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Social Housing Unit Blocks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/54-social-housing.md) - [Blocky Stone Perimeter Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/forte-house.md) - [Gridded Urban Apartment Blocks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/la-carboneria.md) - [Gridded Screen Apartment Blocks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/residential-building-1.md) - [Wooden Screen Apartment Blocks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ohlab.md) - [Copper-Accented Apartment Blocks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fenwick-st.md) - [Slopped-Base Green Tiled Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bak-gordon-arquitectos.md) - [Metal Mesh Residential Buildings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cit-angus-ii.md) - [Steel Facade-Wrapped Residences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bomun-house.md)