The approach to the natural pre-existences led to decide to implant the house in the lower areas, to not interfere with the views of the hills. The irregular relief and the proximity to the stream, suggests the implantation in two levels.
The ground floor holds the access to the residence and the garage. Also an integrated social area that extends through a balcony (deep) facing the pool, orchard and gardens. The idea of concentrating the main program at the top level is justified by its implementation in the downhill where rainwater.
Solar orientation was also an important condition for the implantation and zoning. The upper level opens looking for the sun towards the north quadrant: the gallery that conforms this perimeter, organizes the circulation and distribution to the intimate, social and service areas independently. Seeking other meanings for this circulation, we could consider it as a large veranda that embraces the inner courtyard, creating a sequence of intermediate spaces.
This configuration organizes the residence in three wings: to the East (where the bedrooms and bathrooms are), to the West (laundry room), and to the South, the integrated social area. The shape was just a consequence of these definitions.
The fireplace is the heart of the house: the fire in the center of the house, as in the vernacular architectures of so many cultures. It is the transition between the intimate, services and socials wings. It also takes part as a façade element in the symmetry axis. Its design was conditioned to form a cutout in the landscape, framing the views of the hills.
The straight and pure lines confront the hills sinuosity. The several informations from the landscape was also a conditioner for the material studies: seeking different ways and variations of how to apply them in their natural shape (and hand-crafted).
The use of “miracema” stone was a tribute to the modernist houses from this context. Usually, these stones where found at the base of these residences, which, until today, they are consistent cases of an era with important architecture production.
The design and size of the openings, the venetian blinds and the position of the intermediate spaces had the purpose for a better thermal comfort and natural lighting. The visuals for the hills were fundamental for the composition of scenic windows to the rest areas.
The landscape project respected the natural pre-existences and interventions during a time that those country houses agricultural subsistence. The pine wall at the East were preserved to guarantee better privacy to the outside and as a resource for shading this façade of the residence.