House in Monsaraz As an Artful Creation Emerging from a Terrain

Nestled on lush terrain, a gray concrete house called House in Monsaraz extends from the landscape and appears as a man-made creation coming out from the terrain.

House in Monsaraz by Aires Mateus, Photo by João Guimarães

House in Monsaraz by Aires Mateus, Photo by Nelson Garrido

Perfectly blending with the lush surroundings, from above, people will hardly find this house because of its brilliant design that makes this house look invisible from above. With its potential location in Monsaraz Alqueva Lake, the surrounding site is full of greeneries which was then advantaged as the house’ building element. The structure was added into this terrain where the house’s roof was designed by imitating the green terrain.

The hidden staircase atop the house is the entrance to this unique house, Photo by João Guimarães

Unlike any common house where the entrance door is visible, this house used the hidden stairs on top of the house leading to the house through the roof as an entranceway. From this entrance, a simple living space with three bedrooms opens onto circular patios, offering a valuable moment of looking up to the blue sky above. Straight from the entranceway, the inhabitants will find two glass doors facing the open courtyard with an open dome above. Through these openings, the inhabitants can enjoy the beautiful lake outside and the wide lush surroundings. 

House in Monsaraz features a simple yet sophisticated living space, Photo by Nelson Garrido

One of the living space in House in Monsaraz, Photo by Nelson Garrido

The circular patios, Photo by João Guimarães 

These circular patios invite inhabitants to gaze up at the expansive blue sky, Photo by João Guimarães

This house uses the terrain to cast a dome that covers the social areas. The inverted dome intersects the terrain and creates an opening that lights the space, shaping its precise geometry and limits. This dome also becomes an interesting element that enhances the house’s uniqueness. Through this inverted dome, the beautiful sky above can be seen from the ground without having to go outside. Further adding a unique experience, this dome offers a nice interplay of falling water when rains come.

The inverted dome, Photo by João Guimarães

With the concrete material, the house perfectly blends with the terrain, mimicking the rock and gravel while the painted white dome adds a contrasting touch from above. With this unique design, this house appears as an architectural treasure in the middle of a green terrain. 

The inverted dome introduces a delightful interplay of falling water during rainfall, Photo by Nelson Garrido

House in Monsaraz, Photo by Nelson Garrido

House in Monsaraz, Photo by João Guimarães

Floorplan, cr: Aires Mateus

Elevations and sections, cr: Aires Mateus