Residence in Colares by Frederico Valassina Arquitectos in Portugal

Project: Residence in Colares
Architects: Frederico Valassina Arquitectos
Location: Colares, Portugal
Area: 3,584 sq ft
Photos: panoramah!

Residence in Colares by Frederico Valassina Arquitectos

The residence in Colares project is the design of architects Frederico Valassina Arquitectos. This stunning minimalist modern house has the form of a single-story building with a clean white facade and openings connecting it to the surrounding forest.

Nestled in a dense pine forest near the Maçãs beach (Apple Beach), the house floats above the landscape.
We chose one volume with two distinct facades: one more closed and another more abundant and exposed. The entrance is marked on the blind facade by a sloped path that gently leads us inside, where an unexpected merging with the outside world occurs.

The theme of being inside and outside, both within and without, is an essential part of the atmosphere of such seasonal housing: all spaces in the house have autonomous access from outside. Thus, all zones form a strong connection with the pine forest; the terrace emerges from this idea and serves as a hinge between public and private areas. In the room, spatial continuity is emphasized: two large glass panels, one above the other, alternate and open onto the terrace. Several materials in the house create a unique atmosphere; the interior and exterior are identical – smooth cement flooring ensures spatial integration.

The external terrace, due to its location relative to the terrain's relief, appears as a platform above the pine forest. While the house on one side grows from the earth, on the other it gently floats above it thanks to natural topography. This solution serves as a strategy for ecological comfort: the Sintra mountains have very high humidity levels, and this design reduces moisture transfer from the soil into the house.

The program is simple yet thoughtfully planned with consideration for its location and existing climate. Maximum solar gain is intended: rooms face south, the office serves as a collective space and passageway, the bedroom faces west, and the kitchen faces north. Large glazed windows allow natural light to penetrate most of the day, providing space heating.

Minimizing impact on the natural landscape, the pine forest remains unchanged from its original state before this house was built: the house is a platform floating above the sandy terrain.

–Frederico Valassina Arquitectos