- Interior
During a trip through Portugal, the clients of EXTRASTUDIO discovered a small piece of land on the coast, a short distance from a village about an hour north of Lisbon. Lourinhã, known for fruit production and close to world-famous surf spots such as Ericeira and Peniche, offered a narrow, steep strip of land with panoramic views of the valley, the sea and the village. The plot is a five-minute walk from the beach and provides an intimate setting for a house that combines freedom, tranquillity and experimentation.
The region is known for modest, simple buildings that blend naturally into the landscape. For this holiday home, we wanted to achieve radical simplicity, inspired by historic local architecture but translated into contemporary possibilities. The relationship with the topography was crucial: the house touches the ground in only one place for access, while a cross-shaped platform allows most of the house to float. Terraces surrounding the house connect indoor and outdoor spaces and create a private retreat for each room. An open-air courtyard with a large sliding gate marks the entrance. 
The house appears to float above the landscape without disturbing it
The interior is organised on one level: the kitchen, dining room and living room form a spacious, symmetrical space, while the three bedrooms face south. With a maximum area of 120 m², the height is used to its full potential, creating a surprising sense of grandeur. A large skylight and carefully placed oculi spread light throughout the house, and for four months of the year, a ray of sunshine reaches every room before sunset, with maximum intensity at the solstices. 
Architectural simplicity and recessed windows allow the house to be opened up completely to the outside, enabling daily activities such as showering to take place in the open air. Collaboration between clients and builders left unique traces: red glass doors, portholes and niches, combined with materials such as Irish travertine and blue-green marble.
Outside, a long swimming pool lies among wild pines, parallel to the sea. The landscape remained largely untouched; existing trees have been preserved and a grid of fruit trees reinforces the agricultural character of the surroundings. Here, with the sound of the sea and the valley, the house invites complete relaxation and connection with the landscape. 
Photography by Clemens Poloczek
Landscape architecture by Oficina dos Jardins - Sónia Caldeira, Inês Bordado
Text by Elke Aerts