BODE Country House, designed by PLATAFORMArq and located in Portugal, is a harmonious blend of tradition and modernity. The history of this retreat can be traced back to a collection of rural ruins: ancient structures that once served agricultural purposes.
Located at the base of Monsanto’s historic village, ensconced among the hills, is the discreet luxury haven, BODE Country House. Often described as an “island in the sky,” this retreat breathes new life into its surroundings. True to its original essence, BODE captures the essence and spirit of this Portuguese region.
Today, the naturally weathered Lunawood cladding, paired with the rustic stone walls, represents a masterful fusion of the rural heritage and modern architecture.
Tracing its origins, BODE Country House was once a collection of rural ruins that served as spaces for living and agriculture. Time has left its marks on the stone walls and wooden structures, making them relics of a bygone era. Through meticulous restoration, these remnants have metamorphosed into a
welcoming Country House.
The property’s topography gently holds these structures, encapsulated by stone walls that whisper tales of past eras. Every detail, from stones to trees, adds to the site’s allure. Careful urban planning preserved the natural landscape and the initial buildings, striking a balance between history and the present.
Emerging organically from the landscape, BODE Country House integrates the ruins and connects the two ancient buildings with a transparent corridor, synthesizing past and modern elements. It offers guests an unparalleled experience, fusing history with present-day aesthetics.
Spanning 53,560 square meters, this vast expanse sets the stage for the country abode. The ground floor features interconnected social spaces — kitchens, dining, and lounges. Four tastefully designed bedrooms, each with its own washroom, are also situated on this floor.
Preserving Tradition with Wood: Gracefully weathered Lunawood cladding
A defining feature of BODE Country House’s exterior is its naturally weathered Lunawood Thermowood cladding. This choice not only complements the house’s aesthetic but also pays homage to traditional design principles.
“We decided to use wood on the façade of our project for several compelling reasons, with Lunawood being our material of choice. Firstly, our local context possesses a distinctive identity, and the pre-existing architecture reflects a vernacular style that we aimed to preserve and enhance through the incorporation of new materials. It was essential for us to respect the traditional use of materials such as wood and stone in this context.
Furthermore, while the use of wood as an exterior cladding is not a novel concept, it has fallen out of favor in Portugal due to the challenging climate conditions characterized by significant temperature fluctuations. This climate often necessitates extensive maintenance efforts. In this project, we embraced
this challenge and deliberately incorporated the natural aging process of wood into the overall aesthetic.
Our vision was for the wood to age gracefully over time, allowing its patina to harmonize with the textureof the granite used in the construction.When it came to selecting the specific wood product for our façade, Lunawood emerged as the ideal
choice. Lunawood offered a harmonious blend of quality and the natural appearance of wood that evolves gracefully over time. What we sought with Lunawood was a material that could endure for an extended period with minimal maintenance requirements, aligning perfectly with our goal of creating a long-lasting and low-maintenance architectural solution.
In summary, our decision to use wood on the façade and our choice of Lunawood were driven by our commitment to preserving the local architectural identity, embracing the natural aging process of materials, and prioritizing durability with minimal maintenance. Lunawood’s high-quality products were
pivotal in achieving these objectives and accentuating the overall quality of our architectural design.” Paulo Porges from PLATAFORMArq explains.
