Casas Fundão

A space with double nature

Settled on the Southern edge of the village of Fundão, two single-family houses, Casa LM and Casa PD, emerge from a rural set. Located on the North side of Serra da Gardunha, the plot overviews Serra da Estrela. The topography with expressive slopes shapes the design immersed in the landscape. In such a unique territory, it is essential to understand the geographical and architectural surroundings in order to minimize the impact of the building whereas consolidating the design as something timeless. To the West, two water deposits supply Fundão. An arboreal patch divides the land into two distinct areas; one of them is hermetic and seems to close into the nature, while the other one is more exposed and open to the sights. By defining the limits of the two parcels, the design explores and responds to these distinct features, highlighting different values ​​in each one of them: either closing itself in the natural environment or opening to the panoramic scenery.

The buried buildings are built-in along the natural slope, formalized by a wall perpendicular to the north-south axis. Openings are slitted in the land with glazed spans to bring natural light to the inside of the house. A strategic circulation and distribution unifies the space with seamless transitions between the exterior and the interior. Spatial contractions and expansions create different intimacies. The ground floor is destined for social spaces and bedrooms, while the lower floor provides parking and storage space. The green roof extends the nature with trees and a swimming pool. In the popular Beira-style Architecture, the volumes and compositions are very simple, using basic constructive principles. The materiality adopted follows the common principle of building with what the Earth gives you. Local materials and chromatics are chosen, which stand out as little as possible and are integrated in the landscape.