Villa in Portugal

Architectural firm CORE Architects restored a villa in the city of Almansiil, Portugal. The 210 square meter residence was meticulously crafted with attention to detail. The owner wanted to preserve and accentuate the building's slightly rough and strong character, influenced by coastal winds, while ensuring the house did not become too enclosed, allowing sunlight to fill the interiors.

The CORE Architects team made several key changes to the project, such as centering and relocating the entrance door to the north side, and revitalizing an existing yet forgotten inner courtyard, integrating it into the kitchen and visually extending the smallest bedroom.

The layout requirements were very clear: double the size of the new home, create an open space, and connect interior and exterior spaces. Additionally, as a mother of three adult daughters who bring friends home, and with four dogs and one cat, the client did not want to worry about delicate materials or damaged surfaces. She preferred authentic materials and household appliances, rejecting modern and high-tech devices. She chose natural stone and wood for the floors, rough linen and wood for furniture and interior elements, unpolished concrete stairs, and micro-cement plaster.