Located near the Mafra National Palace, the Tapada de Mafra and the Atlantic coastline, this residential development comprises three multifamily buildings with 56 apartments and nine terraced houses, set within a landscape where nature and heritage coexist in remarkable harmony.
The site’s dramatic topography became the project’s defining element. The careful positioning and orientation of the buildings take advantage of the changing ground levels to create a continuous sequence of views across the surrounding landscape and towards the Atlantic, allowing the architecture to respond naturally to the terrain.
The apartment buildings rise from a parking podium that resolves the site’s level differences and access points, and are crowned by a recessed upper floor accommodating shared amenities and duplex residences. Their sculpted volumes are defined by a precise rhythm of projections and recesses across façades and balconies, creating depth, movement and a distinct relationship with each solar orientation.
Each home is organised around a clear distinction between social and private spaces. Living room and kitchen merge into a generous, open-plan environment designed for contemporary living, while terraces and balconies extend everyday life seamlessly into the outdoors.
The terraced houses reinterpret the same architectural language within a particularly challenging part of the site. Arranged over three levels, they develop in depth, with English courtyards bringing natural light and ventilation to the lower floors, while establishing a direct connection between the living spaces and the landscaped private gardens.
The material palette reinforces the development’s integration into its surroundings. Exposed concrete and precast concrete panels are paired with three-dimensional green ceramic tiles, whose textured surfaces capture and transform daylight throughout the day. Timber elements incorporated into the technical and functional components complete a restrained palette that softens the architectural presence and anchors the buildings within the natural landscape.
