House in Brufe by OVAL with View of the Brufe Valley in Portugal

Project: Casa Em Brufe
Architects: OVAL
Location: Brufe, Portugal
Year: 2021
Photographs by: Ivo Tavares Studio

House in Brufe by OVAL

The house was designed as a single-level building. The plot is almost flat and features a gentle water line that borders the area on the western side. The surrounding landscape to the south is characterized by a natural, continuous space, as if serving as a backdrop for a long meadow. To the north lies a well-maintained main road, opposite which is a kindergarten.

The dwelling is not hidden or turned toward the street. Its terrace is the central element of the volumes, defining itself and the structure.

The complex consists of two parts: a higher section representing the public areas of the house — the entrance hall, spacious living room and kitchen (with a pantry).

The lower part facing east organizes four rooms, a washing machine and an office, all arranged in sequence.

Essentially, like a work by Giacometti, here are two boxes connected by empty space, where each represents its own home — one more open and public, the other more domestic and private.

Terrace spaces will be more important than built areas, as they make the house functional. The 6-meter wide glass windows open only with mechanical assistance — they turn the house into an open territory connected to a square terrace. At the same time, this large glass panel creates a mini-greenhouse next to the pantry when opened.

All openings in the volumes aim toward a language where the concept of window as an element connecting interior and exterior spaces is embraced. The need for privacy in bedrooms led to the creation of a horizontal wooden cladding that strengthens the grammatical structure of the house, which aims to be modern yet maintain a flow and consistency in architectural language.

-Project description and photos provided by Ivo Tavares Studio