
first image
'house in alcobaca' by topos atelier de arquitectura, alcobaca, portugal
image © xavier antunes
all images courtesy of topos atelier de arquitectura
the client's bewilderment with the natural portugese countryside led local architecture firm topos atelier de arquitectura to design the
'house in alcobaca' with the lowest possible profile that would bring out the beauty of the horizontal landscape. the approach to the site
reveals little more than subtle orthogonal elements embedded into the ground, suggesting a trail over a cultured grassy terrain towards
the entry stairs that follow the descending contour of the property. the home is organized linearly into a simple rectangle, with a long hallway
on the northern end and large sliding glass panels on the south that extend views out over the the fields and provide access to the pool.
the characteristic white-painted concrete creates a large horizontal plane that creates a vertical threshold between the public areas above,
and a void allowing access to the inset private spaces beneath.

profile in the landscape
image © xavier antunes

green driveway
image © xavier antunes

edge of property
image © xavier antunes

walkway to entrance
image © xavier antunes

stairs leading down to the northern elevation and entrance
image © xavier antunes

southern facade
image © xavier antunes

overhanging roof shades the interior
image © xavier antunes

exterior patio
image © xavier antunes

view from the interior towards swimming pool
image © xavier antunes

kitchen area - tile floors keep the inside cool
image © xavier antunes
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site plan

site plan

floor plan / level 0

section

section

section

section

elevation

elevation
project info:
design agency: topos atelier de arquitectura, lda
country: portugal
architects: jean pierre porcher, margarida oliveira and albino freitas
collaborators: sofia lima, michael ferreira
area: 270.00 m2
completion date: 2011
what? no infinity pool?