Type: Construction of a single-family house
Client: Private
Location: Leiria, Portugal
Status: ongoing
Project Author: Maria Fradinho
Team: Daniel Antunes, Cristina Paião
Project Date: 2023 – ongoing
Plot Area: 3019 m2
Implantation Area: 232 m2
Construction Area: 278 m2
3D Artist: Rafael Morais
The plot targeted for intervention has an irregular shape and a steep slope, made up of terraces, with rural characteristics. With narrow an access to the public road, the house is forced to be located in the heart of the plot and at a lower level than the road, making it imperceptible to anyone passing by.
The architectural result is discreet and perfectly integrated into the surroundings, ensuring only one floor above the threshold level, at the first terrace, and a second floor below the threshold level, already at the second terrace, being adjusted to the scale of the neighboring building, mostly with 1 floor high.
The building is materialized in white and with a horizontal language, where the planes of the railings extend beyond the interior body, to minimize the impact of the building’s height, giving it a lighter image.
The cantilever elements are also representing the intention of distant views, to contemplate the surrounding landscape. The twisting game allows the building to embrace the area to the Southwest, to create a comfortable space, a sense of warmth and protection, and an interior-exterior dynamic.
All spaces relate only to the green patio to the southwest, to enjoy the best sun exposure and views of the landscape.
In this way the front facade is blind, marked only by the composition of the car parking roof and a staircase that allows access to the visitable flat roof.
The east facade is partially blind, allowing only one opening at the connection with the south facade, to allow contemplation of the olive grove from the interior space of the reading room.
The 1st and 2nd floors have fully glazed facades, both with continuity to a covered exterior floor. An uncovered central courtyard allows the interior spaces a private relationship with the outside, as well as the possibility of crossing views between the two floors.
This is, therefore, a house that cares about its surroundings, respecting it, and integrating it into its design, while at the same time privileging the inside-outside relationship, in a constant attempt to record the privilege of its location.
