Archello Awards 2026 · Enter your projects before 30 September 2026
Archello Awards 2026 · Enter your projects before 30 September 2026

Santuário de Moeda House

Santuário de Moeda House

The primary goal of this residential project was to create an "invisible" house—one that blends seamlessly into the landscape while prioritizing privacy. Set into the lowest point of a sloping lot, far from the main access road, the building takes full advantage of the topography to remain hidden from public view. Visitors descend a long ramp flanked by gabion walls, gradually immersing themselves into the natural terrain.

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The single-slope roof rises toward the mountain range, drawing the view inward and making nature an integral part of the home. Extending from the social wing is a stone deck with a pool and spa that meets the natural terrain via a staircase, ensuring a gentle, organic transition rather than an abrupt boundary. The house sits about four meters below street level, nestled into a cut—not fill—plateau, allowing its green roof to visually continue the slope of the mountain.

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The plan is organized as a long, narrow rectangle divided into three zones: the central social core and private and service areas at each end. The corten steel structure offers the flexibility to create wide-open spans and seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor environments. The social area houses the living room, kitchen, two dining areas (one enclosed, one open), and a lounge beneath a pergola.

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The private zone consists of two separate volumes: one for two semi-suites and another exclusively for the master suite, located at the site’s most privileged viewpoint. Privacy is so well ensured that even an outdoor shower could be incorporated. On the opposite end, the service sector—garage, laundry, and utility spaces—is separated by a stone wall and occupies the least favorable portion of the lot.

This project is a study in architectural invisibility and topographic harmony, where design, landscape, and privacy are woven into a seamless, poetic whole.

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