this bright red house has been designed to stand out amid the vast, uniform landscape of southern portugal. completed by lisbon-based firm rebelo de andrade, ‘house 3000’ is located on a 500 hectare plot populated with scores of cork trees — a constant terrain that, as architect luís rebelo de andrade found when first visiting the site, is particularly difficult to navigate.
the house has been designed to stand out amid the uniform landscape
image by tiago rebelo de andrade | main image by joão guimarães – JG photography
the area’s lack of reference points directly informed rebelo de andrade’s design of the house, which stands as a vibrant beacon among the trees. the ‘overwhelmingly visible’ structure is defined by its bold gable roof, while the windows and doors appear as geometric cutouts of the façade. while these elements may seem like a childlike representation of a house, the dwelling’s simplicity is also based on shared romantic imagery regarding rural domestic living.
the structure is located on a 500 hectare plot populated with scores of cork trees
image by joão guimarães – JG photography
the residence, as well as the adjacent farm building, was designed to be built quickly and cost effectively. the project also prioritizes environmentally sustainable practices with solar panels and thermal collectors that produce more energy than the house consumes. rebelo de andrade has previously designed an eco-resort that comprises seven small units and a set of dwellings that can be accessed via an elevated bridge.
the scheme stands as a vibrant beacon among the trees
image by joão guimarães – JG photography
living accommodation is provided at ground level
image by carlos cezanne
the interiors feature white walls and pale timber flooring
image by carlos cezanne
the residence was designed to be built quickly and cost effectively
image by joão guimarães – JG photography
windows and doors appear as geometric cutouts of the façade
image by joão guimarães – JG photography
the dwelling’s simplicity is based on romantic imagery regarding rural domestic living
image by joão guimarães – JG photography
the ‘overwhelmingly visible’ structure is defined by its bold gable roof
image by joão guimarães – JG photography
the color of the house helps the building stand out
image by joão guimarães – JG photography
project info:
architecture: RA\ rebelo de andrade –
luís rebelo de andrade, joana varajão, filipe ferreira
location: alcácer do sal, portugal
year: 2015 – 2018
area: 400 sqm / 4,306 sqf
client: herdade da considerada
structural project: tisem
passive house project: universidade de aveiro – decivil
photovoltaic project: wayse
on-site coordination: joão júlio loureiro
photography: joão guimarães – JG photography, carlos cezanne, tiago rebelo de andrade
graphic design: maria joão barcelos
text: valério romão
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is “standing out” that necessary?
a ‘look at my belly button’ philosophy?
Architecture is also about standing out. It could be done with extravagant shapes and forms, with materials, volumes and colors to. How boring would be without a bit of that “stand out” philosophy. Famous buildings like the Guggenheim of Bilbao, the works of Zaha Hadid or even Rem Koolhaas… They all have a differentiator factor from the environment where they are built… They stand out!
Otherwise was nothing more than a boring usual project.
contrast is another form of context