SO arquitetos' coastal portuguese home is a grid of framed views

so arquitetos lands on the atlantic edge

Casa da Rocha Quebrada by SO Arquitetos stands on the southern coast of São Miguel in the Azores, occupying the final open plot along a line of older houses facing the Atlantic. Set against lava rock and open water, the house addresses a landscape shaped by salt and wind, where buildings are designed to endure the coastal elements.

The project was conceived for the parents of one of the studio’s founders, a circumstance that allowed decisions to remain close to daily use and long-term inhabitation. The architects describe the house as essential, shaped by an approach that removes excess and keeps attention on matter, proportion, and function. In this context, the concrete building closes a coastal block while continuing the geological logic of the site, reading as an extension of the Rocha Quebrada itself.

image © Ivo Tavares Studio

Casa da Rocha Quebrada takes shape with durable concrete

From the street, Casa da Rocha Quebrada appears as a dense concrete volume which the team at SO Arquitetos articulates with deep recesses. Exposed concrete was chosen for its resistance to time and salt air, as well as for its directness. The material reads as raw and precise, carrying the marks of casting and weather without applied finish. Solids and voids establish a rhythm that limits visual access, with openings set back from the facade to create shade and protect from strong winds.

The architects describe the exterior as a mineral mass, a sequence of cavities carved into stone. This controlled opacity gives the building a reserved presence within the village fabric. It presents itself as quiet and closed to reinforce the concept of a structure shaped first by site conditions.

Casa da Rocha Quebrada occupies the final coastal plot along São Miguels southern edge

Interior atmosphere

SO Arquitetos curates the interiors of its Casa da Rocha Quebrada to contrast the raw concrete exterior. Crossing the threshold, visitors are met with timber flooring, walls, and built-in cabinetry which warm the spaces and soften the weight of the concrete shell. This contrast lends a steady balance between enclosure and comfort, so that this welcoming warmth and tactility become a central part of the experience.

The plan remains direct. Three bedrooms occupy one side of the volume, while the shared spaces flow together along the sea-facing edge. A central patio cuts through the house, drawing daylight and air deep into the interior. This open void supports natural ventilation and brings a quiet counterpoint to the outward-facing rooms.

the house is conceived as a solid concrete volume shaped by Atlantic exposure

Living with the sea

On the southern elevation, the house opens toward the Atlantic through a structural grid that frames views without exaggeration. The ocean remains present throughout daily movement, filtered by columns, slabs, and balustrades.

Light enters in bands which change with the hour and weather, while the sound of water remains constant.
Seen from the natural pools below, the volume reads as mute and steady, composed of concrete planes shaped by shadow and sun. Stone walls and planted terraces mediate between house and shore, allowing the building to sit with the terrain without dominating it.

recessed openings protect the interior while limiting views from the street