House in Mexilhoeira-Grande, Algarve Property, New Portuguese Residence, Home Portugal

Casa Mexilhoeira-Grande : Contemporary Residence in Portugal

House in The Algarve – design by Marco Arraiolos Arquitectos

11 Jun 2012

House in Mexilhoeira-Grande

Location: The Algarve, south west Portugal

Design: Marco Arraiolos

Photos: Joao Morgado

Contemporary Algarve Property

The house, with a required implementation polygon defined in a development plan, is inserted in a batch of reduced dimensions, with southern exposure and views over the river mouth of the estuary of Alvor.

The project inverts the logic of immediate social/private, being the occupation at ground level, of the total area of deployment, made with private and service areas – bedrooms, bathroom and laundry. On this foundation rests a top floor with sloping roof, retreated to the south, resulting in a terrace that develops along the whole facade. On this floor are the social areas – living room, dining room and kitchen, taking advantage of the exposure and the outdoor area in terrace, sheltered by the very construction from the prevailing winds from the north.

The sloping roof, white, of single water and with a finish as the walls, allows a partial occupation at floor level 2 and gives a mono materic character to the built.

Slightly changing the dimensions of predefined threshold and fence, sought to a minimal intervention on the existing topography. The retreat to the south “undoes” the volume and allows it to track the slope where it inserts, minimizing the impact of the construction and while seeking a certain recollection and privacy of who inhabits the south terrace, from the street main access to the north.