ARX

The house is conceived as a monolithic volume, largely closed on three sides. The exception is the south façade, where a strong glazed opening cuts through the entire volume across both floors, opening onto the garden. The relatively opaque and restrained north side responds to the prevailing winds and colder orientations, while accommodating vehicular access to the basement via a ramp excavated between the house and the northern boundary of the plot.

While the north and south façades express opposing conditions — closed and open respectively — the east and west end façades are characterised by a sculptural articulation of the concrete wall, seeking a delicate balance in the way its weight meets the ground.

The house is conceived as a strong material artefact, constructed in exposed concrete cast in situ, with a textured finish created using timber formwork. This gives the surface a natural roughness and a distinctive character. The inner faces of this architectural and structural shell are clad in white, staggered azulejo tiles by Viúva-Lamego, establishing a duality between inside and outside, between matte and glossy surfaces, which extends into the exterior spaces at the transitions around the openings.

The ground floor is primarily dedicated to the house’s shared and daytime activities, with a fluid and informal spatial quality that extends visually towards the outdoor spaces, swimming pool and garden. The upper floor is dedicated to private and nighttime activities, accommodating three south-facing suites with access to a generous balcony. This balcony connects directly to the swimming pool at ground level via an external staircase.

From the balcony, a spiral staircase leads to the roof, conceived as a flat terrace enclosed by a parapet. On the southern side, the roof is complemented by a projecting metal pergola that provides shade to the glazed surface of the bedrooms.