Casa HD is located within a residential enclave between Sesimbra and the village of Azeitão, occupying a trapezoidal plot bounded by the access road to the east and adjacent buildings to the north and south. While the topography is relatively gentle, the existing slope was leveraged to raise the construction one metre above street level, eliminating the need for major earthworks and enhancing visual and spatial autonomy.
Situated near the Arrábida Natural Park, the site benefits from a striking natural backdrop dominated by the surrounding mountain range. The landscape is characterized by cork oaks, holm oaks, and scattered low vegetation, typical of the Portuguese montado ecosystem.
The house is organized on a single level, with a built area of approximately 300 m² within a 1,600 m² plot. Designed in an L-shaped layout, the project establishes a clear division between public and private programs. Entry is made from the northern corner, leading into a longer wing that contains three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and an additional multipurpose room that may serve as a guest room or office. The shorter wing houses the kitchen and an open-plan living/dining area, structured around a central patio that articulates both wings.
The interior spaces were conceived to be fluid and minimally partitioned, encouraging flexible use and visual continuity. A continuous flooring finish — extending from interior spaces to the outdoor patio — enhances this sense of spatial fluidity and enables hybrid living environments.
All rooms face inward toward the center of the site, with large, unobstructed openings oriented to the west and south. Passive solar strategies are integrated through deep porches that provide shade and regulate thermal performance. The remaining elevations are more restrained, with strategic openings designed to capture soft eastern light.
From the street, the house presents a strong horizontal silhouette — a white linear volume resting on a dark, solid base. A narrow, elongated swimming pool defines the central axis of the site, visually anchoring the outdoor space and drawing the eye toward the native vegetation at the rear of the lot.
The material palette is sober and tactile, comprising oak and kambala woods, Lioz and Azul Cadoiço stones, and handmade terracotta tiles that pave the terraces and staircase. The textures and surfaces evoke the understated ambiance of a rural Portuguese dwelling, while subtle formal gestures — such as the sculptural fireplace and lookout terrace — embed a “postmodern image”. The flat roof functions not only as a solarium and terrace, but as a scenic belvedere over the Serra da Arrábida.
