PROMONTÓRIO aggregates white volumes around patio in portugal

portuguese architecture and design firm PROMONTÓRIO has built the ‘patio house’ near the atlantic coast of portugal. inspired by rural settlements known as ‘montes’, the home is located on a large field of mature cork oaks and stone pines in grandola, alentejo.

PROMONTÓRIO chose a central patio as the core design focus of the project, which serves as the main source of light and shade. around the central courtyard, adjoining volumes aggregate to form the more private spaces of the house such as the bedrooms, toilets, kitchen, pantry, and storage. the interstitial spaces between the volumes generate the social areas such as the living and dining rooms and the study.

the house creates a dialogue between opposing private and open spaces. the volumes are enclosed in thick, whitewashed walls with few openings providing seclusion. in contrast, common areas flow organically through the serenity of the internal glass patio.

the patio offers crisscrossing views into the surrounding landscape of oak fields. while the solid mass of the home is emphasized upon first impression, the large sliding windows create a transparency across the whole structure.