Gateira is a quaint village perched on a beautiful hill abundant with vineyards, pine trees, and olive groves. It offers stunning views of Serra da Estrela to the south, the highest point on the Portuguese mainland.
The clients, a British couple, wished to create a second home for their family that provides ample space to live peacefully away from the noise and rush of London. The primary design challenge was how to harmonize the unique balance between nature, agriculture, and traditional architecture to craft a striking landscape residence.
Our approach focused on simplicity: the entrance is positioned on the upper level, the structure is built using local traditional stone walls, and at its heart lies a two-story social space. From this central area, the building’s volume extends along the terrain, effectively separating social and private zones. This layout ensures every room on different floors connects seamlessly with the outdoors, making the house feel integrated within the landscape — a home that truly strolls through the countryside.
Buildings that are anchored close to the earth benefit not only from solid foundations but also from an intrinsic romantic connection to their surroundings. This design also enhances energy efficiency: the earth’s constant heat helps regulate indoor temperatures throughout the day and across seasons.
The courtyard between the living room and master bedroom acts as a passive thermal device. It creates an elevated airflow between the pool and the courtyard, effectively cooling the house during spring and summer, while retaining warmth during autumn and winter.
Design Drawings
△ Ground Floor Plan
△ Upper Floor Plan
△ Roof Plan
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
△ Model
△ Model
Project Information
Project Type: Independent Residential Building
Location: Portugal
Architectural Firm: Camarim Arquitectos
Area: 403 m²
Year: 2014
Photographer: Nelson Garrido
Chief Architect: Camarim
Design Team: Vasco Correia, Patrícia Sousa
Collaborators: Tiago Garrido, Jonas Grinevicius, Christoph Schwander
Site Area: 2,143 m²
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