With the objective of designing a single family home on a plot of extraordinary complex characteristics Hugo Pereira Architects achieved this while minimising the impact allowed the site to remain almost intact and unchanged.  

The site located in Celorico de Basto, in the Braga District, a nature protected environment for the conservation of different species of cork oak that have a great value in the Lusitanian territory, and where the setting of the house allowed for the preservation of all existing trees and taking into account the strong relationship with nature to make it an integral part of the house; a key element in the enhancement of interior spaces. 

The natural environment and the views enjoyed there were decisive factors in the house construction. The seeming lightness of this construction is accentuated by the details and elements that relate to each other and to the abundant green weave of the various trees and shrubs, a constant presence in any space within the house.

The choice of construction elements and materials was defined taking into account the visual impression and the framing within its surroundings. The outside of the house is all built in concrete with the traditional process using pine wood boards for framing and with the geometrical stonecutter solid forms - which the ancient Greek called "Stereotomy" - fashioned accordingly to the scale of the surfaces and of the whole. 

The slope on the façades suggests the continuity of the land, disguising the house in the ground and in nature also by choosing the color, whose tonality allows to highlight the green of the surroundings.

The concrete walls contrasting with the glass allows for abundant natural light, from east to west, and for natural bounty that outside, whether as large trees or shrubs seasoning this setting and attracting a wonderful variety of insects.

Inside the house big, bright spaces dominate, such as the kitchen opens into the dining and living room. Placed perpendicular to these are the three bedroom suites and on the upper floor an open, panoramic space. 

The floor is covered in black tiles, continuing onto external patios, both on the roof and on the ground floor, and all rooms interact with the outdoors directly or indirectly.

The dark tint of the pavement contrasts with the wood of two key elements: the flowing, suspended furniture that runs through the kitchen, dining room and living room and whose asymmetry is similar to the house and the furniture in the corridor, also suspending, that starts a tone end and "tearing" - making do without - a door to the master suite.

The pieces of furniture and the decorative elements were carefully chosen and framed in the architecture of the house.

The narrow pool, with salt and crystalline water, is a space of excellence for contemplating nature with the birds chirping as background noise.

The house access is made via a Portuguese granite road that goes around the cork oak trees and ends into the asymmetrical flap of a great volumetric stone cut shapes that gives the entrance an impressing yet welcoming appearance. 

Project facts

Project name: Casa dos Sobreiros (Cork Oak House ) 

Location: Celorico de Basto, Portugal

Year of conclusion: 2020 

Total area: 330 m2

Architecture: Hugo Pereira Arquitetos  

Main Architect: Hugo Pereira and Diogo Jordão

Architectural photographer © Ivo Tavares Studio

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