The land where we can see this house, located in the town of Possanco in Portugal, provides a transition zone between a new urban area and a protected agriculture. A vast plain to the north end in the distance on a mountain, forming a unique backdrop.
The owners commissioned a small house, allowing them to enjoy informally on weekends to escape the daily stress of city. The architects thought of an asymmetrical roof house and a very clean look through your exterior lime paint, creating an almost abstract figure.
The first constraint was relevant to the triangular shape of the land, applying the legal distance, not too formal alternatives allowed. The design of the house also had to face a paradox: the most interesting sights are north and south, where the windows should be arranged to look natural light. To the south is the road traffic and pedestrians, all that homeowners seeking to avoid.
These two ended up being the key aspects of the project and resolved based on the element of the courtyard. The maximum height allowed for the masterplan is developed in the rear to the north and the minimum height in the front wall, facing the street. In order to receive natural light to the south, were introduced four courtyards: a central one in the living room, one in service and one near the nursery.
The entire volume is white, including the roof, where the courts appear to be excavated, giving a unique character to the house. His repertoire is finally: the target volume, the play of light and shade, thickness and texture.
